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Fund Raising Birthday Bash Success

We celebrated our Centenary in style on Saturday 6 March when the theatre volunteers staged a Gala Dinner and Auction at Ewood park to raise funds for our roof appeal.  Around 350 people representing businesses, the arts and patrons from across East Lancashire attended the swanky do in the Premier Suite at Blackburn Rovers.

Volunteer Characters
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Eric Parkington and Lisa Marie dressed up as cinema icons, Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe to welcome guests - whilst dance students from Zoe Taylor School of Dance and The Bernese School of Theatre, Dance and Drama made a splash as Las Vegas style show girls.   Roger Nuttall and a Laurel and Hardy Walkabout provided close up magic for guests.  

A team of 30 volunteer staff working as event stewards on the evening were congratulated by guests for the excellent smooth running and professionalism of the evening which was the biggest single fundraising event staged by the theatre in its history.  

Michael Berry, Chairman spent 12 months collecting birthday gifts which were auctioned on the night including a special prize from author, Josephine Cox to have a character in a forthcoming novel named after a loved one.    

The total raised was £21,000 and at the end of the evening a massive donation of £50,000 was revealed from a mystery benefactor.

Theatre chairman Michael Berry said: "The individual concerned is a very private person, but this is a magnificent gesture and we are absolutely delighted."

 

Release Date: Monday 8 March 2010