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Harriet heads up Happy Birthday Year for the Empire

Harriet heads up Happy Birthday Year for the Empire

Theatre Birthday Centenary celebrations

 

As the Thwaites Empire enters its Centenary year there's a change of role for Harrriet Roberts who steps down from her role as Chief Executive to head up the celebrations.

Harriet Roberts

It's 100 years since the theatre began as one of the first purpose built electric cinemas in the UK, and is the only surviving entertainment venue in the town which once boasted around 14 similar picture houses.  

Thanks to a Heritage Lottery grant a programme of community activities has been published with details of local history walks, backstage talks and tours, special performances and screenings.

 

The Fall and Rise of The EmpireA fully illustrated commemorative book is to be published, entitled The Fall and Rise of the Empire which tells the story of how the cinema came to be built, and how local people have worked to restore the Empire to its present state as a volunteer-run community performing arts venue.  

There's an opportunity for local schools to get involved in a community performance working with a professional writer and director, Tim Lince.

 

 

Harriet is also busy working with Chairman, Michael Berry in organising a fundraising Gala Dinner at Ewood Park on Saturday 6 March and online auction to raise £100K to replace the theatre roof.   

'It's important that we use the centenary to look to the future as well as celebrating the past.   There's no denying that this place has a very special place in the heart's of local people and continues to play a big part in peoples lives whether they are volunteers here or children who attend the dance and drama classes, members of local performing arts and drama societies or patrons and audience members.

So much work has gone into this fantastic project and we want to raise the profile of the theatre over the next 12 months to ensure that we have this important facility for future generations.

I'm going to be spending time looking at partnership and development opportunities for our growth and exploring funding opportunities available to improve and extend the facilities we offer across the community.'

The operational side of managing the theatre is presently being managed by Ian Robinson whilst a decision is made about a permanent appointment for a General Manager to take over the day-to-day running of the venue.

 

Release Date: Monday 4 January 2010