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YOUR NEWS – Local Historian Helps Local Theatre

YOUR NEWS – Local Historian Helps Local Theatre

by Sally Heath


At a time when the theatre would be throwing open our doors and giving you a peek behind the scenes, for the national event ‘Heritage Open Days’ this book tells the journey of this beautiful building [Blakehay Theatre] in the heart of Weston-super-Mare from its beginnings in 1850 to being awarded ‘Best Evening Out’ in 2020.

The book details how the building was built and its original purpose in Wadham Street, through struggling times and wonderful expansions to disaster and rebirth.

The book is in full colour with beautiful pictures that have been meticulously researched after many of the historical documents were lost in flames during WWII. An amazing look back and historical record of one of the most important buildings in the heart of Weston-super-Mare.

This wonderful donation of time and money from John Crockford-Hawley, means that all proceeds from the sale of this limited edition book will go to help the Blakehay Theatre during these times.

The Blakehay Theatre closed its doors on 17 March 2020 due to the pandemic and with no guidance on when the doors will reopen.

The Blakehay Theatre offers a stimulating and inclusive programme at the heart of Weston’s cultural life, appealing to theatregoers of all generations. Their mission is to be leading the way in this zeitgeist for Weston-super-Mare. They create Theatre for the whole community, bringing national popular shows and treading subject matters onto the stage. To promote a creative hub for artists and performers in the local area and a cultural home for fans of the arts.

The theatre’s uniquely diverse program of locally produced and touring work is curated for the Weston audience and visitors. Blakehay Theatre is striving to create an inclusive creative community to make the most of a beautiful venue by using all of its spaces for artistic endorsers.

The theatre may be little, but it has big ideas and wants to survive as it has done historically through difficult times. The vision is to build a ‘big-city’ creative culture into the heart of the Victorian seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. They need continued public support to help sustain and grow this vision through ticket sales, personal donations, sponsorship and help spreading the word.

The Blakehay Theatre is hoping to open as soon as it is possible, but in the meantime they are looking to use this money to buy equipment to bring theatre out of the building. So, for only £2.00 you can help, and have a piece of limited edition history in your hands.

The book is on sale in the shop at our sister site Weston Museum in Burlington Street, Weston-super-Mare, open Thu to Sat from 12pm to 4pm. Alternatively go online to:
www.ticketsource.co.uk/blakehaytheatre/t-qpperr or at: www.blakehaytheatre.co.uk …and this book will be posted to you.

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