DEMOLITION work has stripped the Octagon Theatre back to its original footprint of 1967.

New images released show how the work is progressing on the theatre which is undergoing a multi-million pound redevelopment.

The demolition of certain areas of the building is now complete and has been stripped back to the original footprint in 1967, ready for the ground works for the new sections to begin.

The theatre is undergoing its biggest transformation project since it opened in 1967.

The £10 million Octagon Reimagined project ­— the first part of the town's masterplan ­— will transform the building, update backstage facilities, increase accessibility and much more.

Photographs show what the auditorium currently looks like and plans are to install new seats to improve audience comfort.

The second floor of the current building has no walls or roof.

Roddy Gauld, Chief Executive: “It’s great to see such progress being made on the building works.  Following the demolition work, what currently remains is pretty much the original 1967 structure.  The groundworks are one of the last seen but most complicated phases.  Now the ground is being prepared for new foundations for the new build to commence, which will wrap-around the original theatre and create a larger, more modern Octagon.”

The majority of funding has already been secured from Bolton Council and Arts Council England along with trust and foundations, businesses and major donors but there is still an ongoing fundraising campaign to raise to the final £700,000.

Works will now begin on the new areas of the building.

The theatre is expected to reopen in early 2020.

People are being invited to help fundraise the final amount. Initiatives include purchasing a brick.

The original "buy a brick’" campaign in 1967 raised the funding needed to begin the Octagon story.

For more information on the fundraising campaign visit https://octagonbolton.co.uk/support/octagon-reimagined/