Popular theatre boosted by Council grant
Arun District Council has awarded a grant of £30,000 to Arun Arts to help support the popular Alexandra Theatre in Bognor Regis.
The theatre serves as a popular community venue providing a wide range of cultural activities.
Along with an ever-growing performance programme, the venue also provides and runs a programme to help engage with all ages and sectors of the community.
This includes working with more than 15 community groups, and running family events, a youth theatre, classical music concerts, and a ‘relaxed’ performance of the seasonal pantomime, modified for children and adults who may benefit from a more informal environment.
In 2017, the theatre put on 95 productions and sold more than 45,000 tickets with figures showing that audience numbers have doubled since 2011.
The foyer now hosts the Bognor Regis Visitor Information Point, further enhancing all the theatre has to offer.
The grant will support the activities of the theatre and ensure that it continues to provide a valued service to the community and help it to become financially secure.
Hazel Latus, Director of Arun Arts, said: “We appreciate the generous grant and support from Arun District Council enormously. It will be well used and play a major part in us being able to carry forward our plans and aspirations for growth and improvements within the Regis Centre/Alexandra Theatre for the good of all our users and community at large.”
Councillor Mrs Gillian Brown, Leader of Arun District Council and Cabinet Member for Economy, said: “The Alexandra Theatre is an important and popular provision in our community – much loved by many – young and old alike. It will form part of the Council’s new Winter Gardens regeneration plans for a cultural hub and the award of this grant will help to ensure that the theatre continues to be a viable and thriving venue.’’