Arun District Council have submitted a bid for £12.1m from the Government’s Levelling Up fund for a revamp of the Alexandra Theatre, in Bognor Regis. The 357-seat theatre shows a variety of entertainment from comedy to drama to pantomime. It is part of the Regis Centre, which offers a range of entertainment from dance, musicals, drama, music and family events.
Burrell Foley Fischer’s refurbishment and remodelling proposals include:
New front of house facilities at the theatre;
More seating and other internal improvements;
A new roof;
Exhibition space;
Additional meeting rooms and;
New toilets, including a Changing Place toilet.
BFF worked with Arts Management Consultants, Stephen Browning Associates, to demonstrate that the proposals would support a viable business plan and ensure a sustainable future for the venue.
The aim of the Levelling Up Fund is to provide investment for infrastructure in towns and villages most in need – with coastal communities being one of the hot spots. The first round of bidding focuses on three areas: regeneration, cultural investment and transport, with Arun’s bid covering the first two.
Council leader Shaun Gunner said:
“It shows ambition on the part of the council that we want to be gaining public money in order to be getting people into our towns and show that we are investing and that the government, hopefully, is also investing in our towns as well. What we hope is that this will be the catalyst for further investment, both public and private, going forward.”
