Twelve months on from the cutting of the first turf, the Holroyd Community Theatre moved into the final phase of development with the topping out ceremony marking the end of the external building phase.
It was a poignant occasion for outgoing Moreton Hall Principal Jonathan Forster who has piloted the community theatre initiative from the initial suggestion and offer of anchor funding by Moreton parents and local philanthropists, Bill and Julie Holroyd. The Holroyds became the theatre’s first patrons, donating £500,000 to raise the curtain on the project and through the generosity of many in the Moreton Hall community, as well as grants nationally from the Garfield Weston Foundation and locally from, the Millichope Foundation, the Walker Trust and the Lord Leverhulme’s Charitable Trust, Jonathan’s Forster’s long held dream has become a reality.
The topping out was led by Jonathan Forster and accompanied by Laura Holden from the Holroyd family and Chair of the Holroyd Community Theatre board, Simon Baynes.
Speaking about this pivotal moment, Jonathan Forster said, “Today is literally a dream come true. Community is at the heart of what we do here and I am delighted that as I leave Moreton Hall, this wonderful community theatre is now in place.” Simon Baynes added “For our local communities in Oswestry, North Shropshire and Wales this looks set to be a fabulous platform for a wide range of talent.”
With an anticipated raising of curtains in the autumn, this is an exciting time for Artistic Director, Loveday Ingram: “With the exterior complete, we are now focusing on the interior, ensuring that everything is in place to make this a destination of choice for a range of diverse and exciting companies and shows.”
Representing the Holroyd family, Laura Holden said: “This is a very special occasion. This is a long held dream of my family’s and today we can see it really has come true.”
