Penrith Players have unveiled improvements at their much-loved Playhouse – the first project in the Borderlands Place Programme to be approved and completed.
The Players bid in 2024 for £118,000, via Westmorland and Furness Council, to the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal. This was under the Borderlands Place Programme.
The Borderlands Place Programme is supporting six Cumbrian towns – Dalton in Furness, Penrith, Ulverston, Egremont, Longtown and Wigton – with up to £3 million each as part of the Borderlands Place Programme, a major programme to support the development and renewal of 22 towns across the Borderlands region.
At the Playhouse in Auctionmart Lane, state-of-the-art retractable seating has been installed which has created a fully flexible theatre and performance space which can adapt to a variety of productions and events such as cabaret-style events, dance performances and put on theatre in the round. The Playhouse already hosts a wide range of activities including a range of classic dramas and new writing for the theatre, panto, live music, youth theatre and opera.
As part of improving the auditorium, new LED lighting has been installed, which will also reduce the theatre’s carbon footprint.
To make the Playhouse more attractive, inviting and comfortable for users the bar area has been upgraded and the ventilation improved. The external signage and the entrance as also been redeveloped to improve the visibility of and sense of arrival at the Playhouse.
Roger Bird, chairman of the Players, said: “We are delighted with these significant enhancements to our facilities. With the new flexibility, we plan to increase the number and type of events at the Playhouse, enhancing our current programme and benefitting the town and surrounding communities.
"It's a very good feeling to be able to look at our auditorium and see the huge improvement. The important thing is that the new seating makes it a much more flexible space. We can concertina this all the way to the back wall, and we've got an open space for other events, be they musical events or dances.
"And, of course, it allows other theatrical setups that we haven't been able to do before. You can set up productions in the round, and we're looking forward to doing one of those later this year.
"So, it's a very big improvement, and we're very grateful to the Government via Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal and for the help we've had from Westmorland and Furness Council. They've worked closely with us through what has been quite a long process, but it's been worth it when you see the result."
"Thanks also to Penrith Town Council and other local arts organisations for their support over the last few years."
Penrith Players was formed in 1922 and moved into the present venue in 1998. In 2022, the 100th anniversary of the Players, the idea of a full redevelopment project was developed and a project team started seeking funding.
Westmorland and Furness Council has supported the Players throughout. Penrith's Town Team included the project in the Borderlands Town Investment Plan and it was then approved by the Borderlands Board. This is the first project in the BTIP to be completed.
The Players welcomed representatives from Westmorland and Furness Council, Penrith Town Council and the Town Team to the Playhouse to see the results of the completed project.
Councillor Patricia Bell, member for Penrith North, Cabinet member for Adult Care and member of the Town Team, said: "I'm really pleased for the Playhouse that they've been successful with their bid to Borderlands.
"It's made such a difference. The seating is absolutely great, the front of house looks so different and is much more welcoming than before."
Those taking part in the visit included Cllr Lorna Baker, chair of Eden Locality Board; Cllr Mark Rudhall, vice-chair of Eden Locality Board and the council; and chair of Penrith Town Council and mayor Cllr Val Bowen.
The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal is a landmark cross-border investment partnership involving five councils: Cumberland, Dumfries and Galloway, Northumberland, Scottish Borders, and Westmorland and Furness. It aims to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the South of Scotland and North of England.
Signed in March 2021, the Deal brings up to £452 million of fresh investment to the region over 10-15 years. It is the largest geographic regional growth deal in the UK and includes funding from both the UK and Scottish Governments alongside local partners.
The Deal focuses on four themes: improving places, enabling infrastructure, encouraging green growth, and supporting innovation, business, and skills, delivering benefits to over one million residents.
The Borderlands Place Programme is a key component, investing £50 million to support development and renewal in 22 towns across the region. Each town has developed a Place Plan to shape its local vision and access matched funding for growth projects.
More about the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.