Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre is planning £3.9m refurbishment to mark its 90th anniversary next year.
The revamp of the Grade II listed auditorium involves a planned closure in the summer of 2018 to complete the works.
The theatre has also launched a public fundraising campaign to help towards the cost of the project.
So far the theatre has secured £2.54m towards the cost of the project, but as a charitable trust which receives no direct public subsidy it needs help to raise the remaining £1.35m.
Michael Ockwell, Mayflower Theatre Chief Executive said: “Our wonderful theatre comes to life when our audience are sat in the auditorium, and now it is in need of a major refurbishment programme to secure its future.
“Plans include repainting the whole of the auditorium, moving the pit further under the stage and installing brand new seating in the Stalls and Circle. “This work is essential not just to preserve the building, but to benefit the more than 500,000 people each year who enjoy visiting our theatre. It will provide higher levels of comfort, better access and more opportunities to experience live performance in Southampton.”
