First brick laid as new theatre begins to take shape
The Holroyd Community Theatre, near Oswestry, came a step closer to curtain up this week with the laying of the first of the 42,000 bricks.
Chris Jones of Jones Brothers, Jonathan Forster, Principal at Moreton Hall with students from Face2 Face Performance Academy and Moreton Hall with Laura Holden
Set in the grounds of Moreton Hall School, the £1.45 million Arts venue will provide a flexible and exciting performance space for artists from across the region. With the steels now in place, the laying of the first brick marks the start of the next phase and for local builders, Jones Brothers, the benefactors and fundraisers is a significant moment in the theatre’s progress.
The dream of Moreton Hall retiring principal, Jonathan Forster, the Holroyd Community Theatre began to become a reality when former Moreton parents and local philanthropists, Bill and Julie Holroyd became the theatre’s first patrons, donating £500,000 to raise the curtain on the project, so it was fitting that their daughter, Laura Holden, laid the first brick.
Laura said: “It was an absolute privilege to lay the first brick and see the incredible progress being made. My family and I cannot wait to see the community taking full advantage of this inspiring space.”
Chair of the Holroyd Community Theatre Company, Simon Baynes, said “This is an exciting moment in the story of our community theatre. With the first brick in place, our community theatre really is taking shape.”
Board Member and Theatre Director Loveday Ingram, said “Once complete, this bespoke performance space promises to be not only a fabulous venue for local performers but also a destination of choice for professional touring companies. These are exciting times for our local communities in North Shropshire and North Wales.”
