THE stage is set for Bolton Little Theatre to reopen with a new performance.

After a difficult year, having no income from ticket sales, due to Covid 19, BLT is back with new show dates for Dick Barton - Special Agent, and a fresh new look.

Using their own funds, theatre bosses appointed Accrington based Roselee Construction to carry out works to the facade and toilets.

The facade has been updated and replaced and a new signage will be added, as well as a new red roller shutter matching their existing interior doorway.

In-house volunteers repainted all the dressing rooms, the connected corridor and stairs to the wardrobe. Painting is set to continue in the lounge.

The stage team, led by Jeff Lunt, has also been working on cleaning out the pits under the stage, replacing rotten wood and organising the paint and wood storage as well as above stage storage. The stage lighting has also been tested and tidied.

But there is more work needed in the theatre such as the lighting in the bar, heating, alarms, new furniture, better box office facilities and a full bar refurbishment.

This means for the theatre to go forward with major work, and to maintain their financial security, trustees need help to gain some extra funds.

A Bolton Little Theatre spokesman said: “We have had no money from tickets sales now since March 2020, so we really hope that from September 2021 the theatre will be fully back up and running and, most importantly, generating income.

“We would, as ever, be most grateful for any support you can give, whether in kind such as helping with further theatre renovation, there’s plenty of painting and cleaning still to go at.

“Raising funds by arranging events, or attending any that are arranged, or in any way you can. Of course we also welcome donations of any size and we can claim gift aid on top if the gift comes from a UK taxpayer.

“If you can help us raise funds, or if you know of a possible source of funding, please could you contact one of the fundraising team – Carol Butler, Emily Hill, Jane Robertshaw or Janice Drake.”

The Dick Barton Special Agent show, by Phil Willmott, be nightly att 7:30pm from Monday, September 13, until Saturday, September 18.

Tickets are on sale online at www.boltonlittletheatre.co.uk