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Posted: Thursday 22 September, 2011
The Mayor of Bath, Cllr Bryan Chalker, visited The Mission Theatre on Monday 19 September to give his official seal of approval to the Space-Mission fundraising appeal.
The exciting news is that thanks to the generosity of patrons, Youth members, visiting performers and audience members, Space-Mission is already over half-way to meeting its target.
Extremely generous contributions from the Roper Family Charitable Trust and The Joyce Fletcher Charitable Foundation were received within days of the launch of Space-Mission and since then cheques and donations from the general public have been rolling in to the theatre.
Bryan Chalker, a long-time friend and supporter of Next Stage’s work and renovation in the Grade II listed chapel which has become The Mission Theatre, is a Bath Heritage Champion. Bryan is extremely excited about the latest project which will restore the dilapidated building at the rear of the theatre.
Ann Garner, Theatre Director and Yvonne Paulley, Theatre Manager, gave Bryan a tour of the two-storey structure which abuts the theatre and which will be converted into dressing rooms and rehearsal space once the £50,000 needed for the project has been raised.
Bryan was fascinated by the 200 year old building which falls within the curtilage of a Grade II listed property. The Mayor toured both floors of the building, marvelling at the original chimney breast, the state of the roof and walls and seeing where the doorway would be made to link the new dressing rooms to the main theatre.
Mission Theatre Director Ann Garner said: “It was lovely to welcome the Mayor to The Mission Theatre and to see his obvious fascination and delight in our project. The response to Space-Mission has been overwhelming. With the generous offer of matched funding from The Brownsword Charitable Foundation, it is looking likely that we will reach our target much sooner than we had anticipated and hence will be in a position to start work as soon as possible. We have had donations of all sizes and are particularly grateful to our regular patrons, whose support of our efforts here at The Mission has been instrumental in the success of the theatre. As well as financial support for Space-Mission, we have had offers of fundraising events, concerts and performances from groups and artists who have enjoyed using the space. We are currently finalising details of three major events and will be announcing these in the near future”.
Meanwhile, if you would like to send a donation to Space-Mission, details are on http://www.missiontheatre.co.uk/fundraising.html or pick up a form from the theatre.
