New £3m plan for theatre unveiled

The 3m plans submitted to Arun District Council by Arun Arts, the group set up to run the then failing theatre several years ago, were unveiled on Monday night at a meeting of the Civic Society.

The proposals, which backers see as a way of saving the theatre from demolition under the regeneration plans for the seafront, could also guarantee live theatre and other arts facilities in the Regis Centre, in a '˜cost effective and affordable' way.

Introducing David Bennett, the architect for the scheme, Bognor town councillor and manager of the Alexandra Theatre Adam Cunard told an audience of around 30 people that he was very excited about the plans which the group hoped to discuss with St Modwen, the proposed developers for Bognor's regeneration, as a way also to cut down on the number of flats proposed for the Arun-owned Regis site.

'David has been involved with Arun Arts for a number of years and feels very passionately about the project,' Mr Cunard said.

Mr Bennett told the meeting that the building since it was first built had been loved and hated in equal measure, but was '˜one of the nicest small concert venues on the south coast'.

The construction was hated because of what one member of the audience described as its '˜vomit-coloured yellow bricks' and grey slate roof.

'It's a forbidding sort of image for Bognor to project and we need to build on it to create a better feeling about the place with the public.'

Among the improvements Mr Bennett proposed was to turn part of Belmont Street which faces the front of the Regis Centre into a paved area to slow the traffic down.

'We want people to see the theatre opposite the arcade and need to bring the entrance forward to the pavement so it can be seen through the arcade and into Belmont Street.'

A much bigger glazed entrance, information desk, larger foyer, a new position for the bar and cafe and better exhibition and rehearsal space were all shown with the help of illustrations of the proposed changes.

With a good-sized stage and backstage area and good visible seating including easily accesssibled seating for disabled people, Mr Bennett believed that by providing 500 seats instead of the existing 350-380 it would help to attract more good quality performers and names to the theatre.

And for small productions a screen across the auditorium was proposed.

'This is the one chance to get an exciting and bright building rather than something dull and grey. There will be a light and cheerful feel about the building with a lot more life about it. At the moment we have a dark and dingy hole,' said Mr Bennett.

Opening the discussion up to the audience, assurances were given by Mr Cunard that the money for the improvements could be raised and it was an affordable plan.

'There are two or three options and it depends on our relationship with Arun and St Modwen.

Gary Oakes, who was full of praise for the plans, said: 'The foyer reminds me of a 1970s doctors' surgery.' He welcomed anything that would make it more attactive.

And Jim Brooks, who is the chairman of Arun Arts and a town and district councillor, said it would be '˜a waste of money knocking it down and building from scratch.'

At around 12m for a new theatre, Mr Brooks said: 'We would be retaining our leisure heart and saving 9m.'

People were asked to write to Arun in support of the scheme.

'Flood them with as many letters as you can,' advised Mr Bennett.

The rest of the meeting was given over to other regeneration issues with critical comments from the top table and the audience over how the matter was being handled by Arun District Council.