New look for Malvern Theatres as £2.25m project continues

The multi-million pound expansion of the theatre, which started in September, is ongoing.

But as scaffolding and hoardings are removed, more and more of the Grange Road side of the building is becoming visible.

Work at the theatre, which will see the opening of a new entrance and community space, is costing £2.25 million and is expected to be completed next month.

Disabled access from Grange Road is also being improved and a new Changing Places toilet, for people with severe disabilities, has already been installed.

READ MORE: Malvern Theatres to get £20 million from Levelling Up Fund

Funding for the project came from Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC) and Malvern Theatres Trust, which operates the theatre on a long-term lease from the council.

The work is being carried out by Malvern-based contractor Speller Metcalfe.

As well as providing a new main entrance for the theatre, the extension will allow it to up its number of workshop places from about 2,500 a year to 14,500.

More drama, music, movement, dance and art classes will be put on and Malvern Theatres will be able to extend its work with Acorns Children’s Hospice and other specialist care providers.

This artist's impression from 2019, when planning permission for the extension was granted

Since the launch of the extension project, Malvern Theatres has secured even more funding.

It was confirmed in January that MHDC had been successful in securing a £20 million grant from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The council said the aim was to transform Malvern’s visitor economy by attracting 135,000 more visitors to the theatre annually and to boost the local economy by £11m per annum.

Malvern Theatres already welcomes around 300,000 guests each year.

The Levelling Up cash is expected to be spent on creating an open-air amphitheatre, new rehearsal spaces and classrooms.

Council leader Tom Wells said: “It will not only deliver much needed additional capacity for professional performers, but also provide local community groups with far greater access to the facilities.

“It will also provide a real boost for our local economy.”