Press Release: Chesil Redevelopment - the end of Act 1

After nearly 11 years a significant time has come for Winchester Dramatic Society’s  ambitious £1million development scheme to extend and improve the Chesil Theatre. The purchase of the land from St John’s Charity has been secured and the Society has received much appreciated support of the Town Forum which recently awarded a £10,000 grant. These two factors mean that plans can be progressed further.

Flavia Bateson, Chairman of the Development Appeal Committee, told a special meeting of members: “This most welcome vote of confidence from the Town Forum should unlock a whole range of funding opportunities, from the County to the Arts Council and many other trusts and foundations.”

Flavia reminded the meeting of events since February 1998 and paid tribute to those who had led the complex negotiations for the project in an important conservation area of the city.

By their own efforts and from successful productions the Society had raised £200,000 and made significant improvements to the existing building for participating actors and technical crew as well as audiences and Youth Theatre members. “Chesil Theatre is highly regarded in the community but with more space we could offer so much more,” she said.

Peter Liddiard, an architect and the newly appointed building project manager, is another member who is donating his time and professional expertise. He explained how the construction would progress and the different departments and sections of the Society would continue to be involved in consultations to ensure their detailed needs are met.

President, Tom Williams, praised the Society for the quality of entertainment offered to the people of Winchester and mid-Hampshire and thanked the huge range of talented and hard working members, which enabled the Chesil to flourish.

We have not stood still in the 11 years since this scheme was first mooted,” he said. “Our theatre is stronger for all we have done. If I may quote another President: ‘Can we do it? Yes we can’ - and we will.”

Cllr Stanley Howells, who attended the meeting said: "I am most impressed by how much work has gone into this scheme. I will certainly help to give the Chesil a higher profile with the general public and support the development in Council."

Lisbeth Rake
Marketing and Publicity
01794 388245
The.rakes@zen.co.uk
www.chesiltheatre.org.uk

Photo of model showing the front elevation of the proposed Chesil Theatre redevelopment.