Weymouth Pavilion stages first show after demolition threat

The Weymouth theatre and music venue closed on 31 May as part of council budget savings

A Dorset seaside theatre, which was under threat of demolition, has hosted its first show since a community takeover.

Weymouth Pavilion closed after the borough council ruled it had become too expensive to maintain.

Phil Say, director of Weymouth Pavilion Community Interest Group, said it meant "so much to a lot of people" to have the theatre open.

Julie Storey's Let's Dance Summer Showcase was the first show on stage.

The council had looked into options for the seafront venue, including demolition, but agreed to put its running out to tender to a not-for-profit-organisation.

Mr Say said it had been a "daunting challenge" to prepare the venue for use again after it closed at the end of May.

"It's been an uphill struggle to get all the systems back online again, but the response from the public has been all positive," he added

A new website and online ticketing system, as well as more summer shows, are planned in the coming weeks.