THEATRE bosses in Rossendale are hoping to make a popular venue 'more versatile' for the community with a £200,000 makeover.

Plans have been lodged with the borough council by the Horse and Bamboo Theatre in Waterfoot which should give them greater freedom to use their main auditorium and studio independently.

MORE TOP STORIES:

And new retractable seating is set to be installed at the Bacup Road building, which should double the theatre's capacity from between 60 to 70, to around 140 people.

Marketing officer Jo Dearden said: "The changes are all about improving the building and its versatility. and flexibility. This will enable us to stage different things and show what we can offer."

Central to the adaptations will be a the construction of a new link corridor, between the theatre and studio, which will provide access to both spaces, while performances are ongoing in either.

Currently there is no permanent kitchen for the theatre, known as The Boo, and internal alterations will allow for this, broadening the scope of what the organisation can offer.

Jo added: "Currently we have an initiative called Baby Boo, where we go out into the community, to mother and toddler groups, and work with parents and youngsters.

"Hopefully now we will be able to encourage some of them to come to us, with our new catering facilities, and widen our range."

New gates will also be fitted behind the theatre, which was once the town's Liberal Club and has served as a roller-skating rink and slipper factory previously.

Work will also focus on upgrading a garage behind The Boo, which can be used as a secure store for props and puppets used in their productions.

Architect Pamela Parkinson said that the sound insulation proposed would make the theatre, at the front, and studio, at the rear, 'useable at the same time'.

If planning permission is secured, the work could begin as soon as March, with an anticipated completion by July, in time for The Boo's well-attended annual puppet festival.

Much of the funding for the scheme has come from a capital grant from the Arts Council but there have also been significant contributions from the Foyle Foundation and Lancashire County Council.

Currently the Horse and Bamboo has a touring production of Hansel and Gretel which is visiting The Square Chapel, in Halifax, this week, before returning to Rossendale in early December, ahead of Christmas date at Bury Met.