Theatre Royal Onward is registered with the Charity Commission No. 1091964 and a Company limited by Guarantee. Also a Buildings Preservation Trust

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Theatre Royal Onward

The members of Theatre Royal Onward first met in November 2000, after discovering that both the exterior and interior of their local, Edwardian theatre, closed for many years, appeared to be in sufficiently good order to enable it to re-open, after basic repairs and restoration. A broad range of uses researched included its original one: live theatre. They applied successfully for Listed Building Status and registered as a charity.                                            Three surveys have already been completed: the last having been recently received and paid for, aided by a grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund, as was the first. AHF is the only group who will invest in purchase, to allow charities to seek restoration grants. The week that the survey was received from the architects the owner was granted Listed Building Consent for repairs and removal of items. Repair work to a high standard has commenced and some heritage fittings removed to storage. The theatre and stage can now be seen as an open space cleared of debris and asbestos and dry rot. As the only way forward for these theatres now is use as diverse as possible, it is hoped the owner may consider taking a route, like the Hackney Empire, or Trocadero London, very multifunctional and  maintaining a profit to keep theatre alive.

Profits from anthologies will help raise money to keep the Charity viable, for further research into the way forward. The presence of a serious action group also means that Theatres Trust has a say in the future and can override Local Authority planning.

          TRO have now succeeded in saving this Heritage building from demolition and major interior alterations. It is not however on the market at present. Should TRO ever cease to exist money from future writing competitions will be donated to                             Save Britain’s Theatres

The Theatre Royal is currently listed among the country’s top ten theatres in danger, but worthy of restoration, on the current Theatres Trust list.