Wolverhampton Grand has announced plans for a major refurbishment in 2016 to improve front-of-house areas and make the theatre a venue that people will visit during the day.
Work will take place during the theatre’s traditional dark period in the summer so that no productions have to be called off. The project will be funded jointly by the Black Country and Wolverhampton LEP and the Grand.
Chief executive Adrian Jackson said, “enhancing the theatre will greatly improve the customer experience and will ensure the Grand not only continues as a celebrated theatre venue but also becomes a popular daytime and early-evening destination for socialising within the heart of the city centre.
“This project is part of our strategic business strategy which, in light of the council’s announcement about reductions in the theatre’s grant funding, is even more imperative for the theatre. Investment now will increase our income potential in the longer term.”
Wolverhampton City Council is faced with making millions of pounds’ worth of cuts and has yet to decide by how much its yearly grant to the Grand will be reduced. In May 2014 the authority chopped £10,000 from the theatre’s £393,000 funding.