The Stage

Blackpool Grand renovation will fail without sponsors

Published Friday 5 November 2004 at 10:15 by Ruth Gillespie

Blackpool Grand Theatre must continue to find new sponsors and raise £500,000 if plans to refurbish the Frank Matcham-designed building are to be realised, trust chairman David Coupe has warned.

Speaking at the first council meeting for The Glorious Grand Restoration Appeal, Coupe paid tribute to the invaluable roles the late trust chairmen Geoffrey Thompson and Sam Lee had played in saving the theatre from closure in the early seventies and urged members to keep up the campaign to secure the venue’s future.

The Grand, which has staged theatrical productions and variety performances since it opened in 1894, had been threatened with demolition in 1972 as part of a town centre redevelopment plan. Supporters fought the proposals, as well as later moves to turn the venue into a bingo hall. The building was finally purchased by the Grand Theatre Trust in 1980.

Coupe said: “Geoffrey Thompson was the managing director of the Blackpool Pleasure Beach company and was a very charismatic person. When we were fighting to save the theatre in the early seventies he gave us tremendous support. It was due to his leadership that the venue was acquired and kept going and we might not be here today if it wasn’t for him.

“When Sam Lee took over as trust chair in 1993 he set various goals, such as securing sponsorship from businesses and carrying out much needed repairs and improvements. These were incredibly successful under his leadership and two years ago we secured a Lottery grant to restore the auditorium to its original condition.”

Having completed the first stage of the refurbishments in 2002, which included vital structural renovations, the second phase was launched during a gala performance in July. This includes improvements to auditorium seating, upgrading facilities for disabled audience members and restoring the theatre’s interior to its original design. Plans for a third development project are currently being drawn up, with work expected to include further extensions to the Grade II listed building to improve disabled access.

Coupe added: “A year ago both men would have been here with us. Geoffrey Thompson gave us inspirational leadership and had invaluable contacts and influence, while Sam Lee knew just how important appeals like this were. Both men put up a colossal fight to keep the Grand for Blackpool.”