Ayr Gaiety Partnership
Over recent days the partnership has taken the first steps to re launch Ayr's Gaiety Theatre. A fund-raising presence in Ayr High Street and the production of an online presence with a revised Gaiety Theatre Website comes some twelve months after the theatre became "dark".
The new website sets out the agenda for the coming months and outlines a programme for the gradual restoration of the facilities in Carrick Street. The emphasis is on a new theatre profile rather than business as usual.
Gaiety from Carrick Street ©MBailey
A Fundraising and Information Centre has been opened at 84 High Street, Ayr. This will be the focal point of all Gaiety business for the next twelve months. An immediate attraction is the display of historical photographs and costumes designs that hung in the old theatre.
The Partnership members, all resident in South Ayrshire, will take the project forward towards re-opening the theatre in early 2011 or before if possible. Since September when South Ayrshire Council awarded The Partnership “preferred bidder” status, a considerable amount of detailed planning has been going on behind the scenes to ensure that the limited company will have charitable status. It is hoped that there will be an early appointment of a theatre manager and a team which will start planning the programme for 2011 and beyond. This team will be scheduling comedy, musicals, classic and traditional music, ballet, drama, children’s shows and pantomime. There will be an emphasis on meeting the needs of young people, the theatre goers of the future.
Gaiety Cafe wing ©MBailey
The Project is expected to cost in excess of £3.6m and will start with essential roof repairs and maintenance to the external structure of the building. At the same time the old Popplewells Café will be refurbished to create a "visually stunning cafe, restaurant and wine bar in the area previously taken up between the old café and the box office".
The web site describes other exciting possibilities for the theatre and invites the general public to contribute to the fund raising efforts to supplement the other sources of funding.
For further information please follow this LINK
To make a postal donation to the project, please follow this LINK
Ayr Gaiety Theatre
Gaiety from Fullarton Street Car Park ©MBailey
Dancers ©Tamara
Auditorium ©Tamara
Staircase ©Tamara