Theatre company appeals for new rehearsal base

Bournemouth & Boscombe Light Opera Company staged The Addams Family in 2022

An award-winning amateur theatre company is facing an uncertain future following the loss of its rehearsal space.

The Bournemouth & Boscombe Light Opera Company (BBLOC) is based at the Corpus Christi Parish Centre which is due to close in September.

The company said the closure was "devastating" as it had two productions already planned for 2025.

It has appealed for help in finding an alternative venue to rehearse in and store equipment.

BBLOC is the resort's oldest musical theatre community group and its performances at the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre can feature casts of up to 70.

Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Boscombe announced in May that running costs and potential significant maintenance bills meant that its church centre building was "no longer sustainable".

Communications manager Sarah Boyce said the company's plight was "desperate".

"It leaves us looking for a new home in the community," she said.

"Having made lots of enquiries ourselves, we're getting to the stage where we really need some help with finding a new rehearsal home."

Ms Boyce said the group hoped to stay in the Bournemouth area, but it needed a large hall to rehearse in twice a week as well as somewhere to store props, costumes and its sound system.

The two shows currently in production are due to be performed at the Pavilion Theatre next year.

"We won't be able to do them if we can't find somewhere to rehearse," she added.