Plan submitted for 'exciting' £8m theatre upgrade

Plans for an £8m refurbishment of a theatre in Leicestershire have been announced.

The Concordia Theatre in Hinckley has submitted an outline planning application to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council to refurbish the site at Stockwell Head.

The scheme, which includes refurbishing the auditorium, is part of the theatre's Project 2030 initiative, which aims to upgrade the site for future generations, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Andy Chamberlain, trustee for Hinckley Concordia Association, told the LDRS the "exciting plans" were submitted in the hope of securing future funding for the community-led theatre.

Chamberlain told the LDRS that much of the work would depend on funding and potential grants, with the theatre having raised £800,000 towards Project 2030.

He said the auditorium work - which would be the focus of the project - was expected to cost £5m, with further work on the building costing about £3m.

"We had comments talking about the comfort and seating in the auditorium. Much of it was built from what those who set up the theatre could get at the time, so we set out with a plan to improve it first and foremost," Chamberlain added.

Plans for the auditorium include new seating designed for improved comfort, as well as quiet heating and cooling systems.

The theatre also plans to improve accessibility, including adding handrails, and to provide six wheelchair spaces spread out across the main auditorium.

Further plans could see the front entrance rebuilt with automated doors, a covered canopy, and a relocated box office, the LDRS said.

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