The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre is being given a massive overhaul having benefitted from a £2.9m cash injection from Surrey County Council, topped up by its own in-house fundraising initiatives. The iconic building in Guildford is being transformed into a cultural community hub with theatre at its core.
Improvements include an interior and exterior makeover (as per artists impression pictures shown here), improved accessibility with more lifts, remodelled public spaces including a new multipurpose community room and environmental sustainability works including replacing outdated electrical and mechanical services with energy efficient alternatives.
To celebrate the start of the Yvonne Arnaud’s transformative building works and the start of their ‘Play Your Part’ capital campaign to transform the Yvonne Arnaud into a cultural community hub, the theatre welcomed some of its patrons, key donors and supporters for a tour of the building works.
On Tuesday 20th August, MP for Guildford Zöe Franklin was shown round the theatre by Director and CEO Joanna Read. Then on Wednesday 21’s August, Surrey County Council Leader Tim Oliver OBE, Mayor of Guildford Cllr Sallie Barker MBE, Cllr Denise Turner-Stewart, Theatre Patron Dame Penelope Keith DBE DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey and Yvonne Arnaud Trustee Michael More-Molyneux DL, pioneer donors and Yvonne Arnaud Trustees were all in attendance.
Tim Oliver OBE, Leader of Surrey County Council said of the project: “Great to see the progress being made today at the Yvonne Arnaud theatre and delighted that Surrey County Council via Your Fund Surrey has been able to fund £2.9m towards making a more accessible arts and culture facility for the community. We know the vital role arts and culture has to play in providing a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing here in Surrey. Your Fund Surrey yet again delivers a significant capital project at the heart of our communities for the benefit of a wider population ensuring No One Is Left Behind. The fund has now enabled so many projects county wide, bringing to life community ideas into community projects for the benefit of all.”
Joanna Read, Director and CEO of the theatre said: “We are delighted that the work to transform our iconic theatre into a cultural community hub, improving our accessibility for everyone, is under way. We look forward to welcoming our audiences back in the autumn and revealing the improvements through the next 12 months. The support from Your Fund Surrey has been vital in getting this project underway.”
The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre is a registered charity and the only producing venue in Surrey. A regional theatre with a national reach and a mission to produce and present vibrant, outstanding, entertaining drama for the communities of Surrey and the South East.
To find out more about their Play Your Part project and how to support the theatre visit www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/play-your-part.
