Mowlem Theatre: Community arts space upgrade under way

The trustees launched a major fundraising campaign in 2023

Work has begun to upgrade part of a seaside theatre to create an arts and community space.

The £100,000 project will see the community room at Mowlem Theatre in Swanage, Dorset, transformed into a modern, accessible, 80-seater facility.

It will include a gallery area and new equipment for cinema and performances.

Work on the room, which has a "spectacular view" of Swanage Bay, is expected to take about six weeks. A launch event is planned for 21 June.

The community room has views over Swanage Bay

Dawn Morley, vice chair of trustees, said: "The space is quite tired at the moment.

"We'll make it more accessible, we'll have state-of-the-art tech for cinema and performance, visual arts display for local artists.

"We are hoping our local users and people who will rent the room in future will really love what we've done."

In 2020, the board of trustees conducted a survey of local people to find out what they wanted from the theatre, which led to the reinstatement of the venue's Show Bar and a rethink of the theatre's programming.

A launch event is planned for 21 June

Last year a major fundraising campaign was launched for the community room and other projects.

Ms Morley said: "We've had really generous donations from Swanage Town Council, Talbot Village Trust and many private donors."

Yoga instructor Sandra Charlton said: "It's a fabulous room with a whole vista of windows overlooking the bay.

"It's a very special space, but it really does need a refurbishment - it's got a threadbare carpet so to have a really nice, clean wooden floor will make a massive difference."

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