The Grade II listed Victoria Theatre in Lower Broughton has been on the Theatres Trust's Theatres at Risk Register since 2012 and during this time, and previously, the Salford Victoria Theatre Trust has been trying to raise community awareness and support to save the building which still has many of its original features intact.
Last year, the Theatre was sold at auction to new owner Mohammed Patel, who has pledged to work with the Trust to seek a way forward.* This has moved a step nearer, after the Theatres Trust awarded the Salford Victoria Theatre Trust a grant of £21,600 "to enable the friends group to carry out a viability study for the theatre to determine the optimum viable use for the building. The study will include an options appraisal and high level cost plan for the restoration of the theatre..."
The Victoria is one of six theatres to receive funding through the first round of the Theatres at Risk Capacity Building Programme, run by the national advisory body for theatres. The others are Burnley Empire, Morecambe Winter Gardens, Peterborough New Theatre, Spilsby Theatre and Swindon Mechanics Institute.
"We are extremely grateful" says Sam Kelly of the Salford Victoria Theatre Trust "We are making significant progress and have to thank the Theatres Trust for their valuable and continued support. Here's to a productive few months of hard work, passion and fun! We would also like to thank Mohammed Patel, the owner of The Victoria, once again for the opportunity and we look forward to working with him further to save this much-loved building..."
Musician, actor and Theatres Trust Trustee Gary Kemp adds: "We know how difficult it can be for theatres to raise funding for the early stage concept and viability works and for organisational support. These first stages of a project provide the vital foundations for both project and organisation, and we hope that with this support, these theatres will be able to make real progress."
The Salford Victoria Theatre Trust, which includes people who worked and performed at the theatre when it was open, is continuing to build a good team of people with the skills to move the project forward...
"We have recently welcomed Sarah Cohen, the prospective Miss Manchester, and we are very happy to welcome anyone on board who would like to help" says Sam "We are particularly looking for anyone who would like to manage social media and the website. We are all volunteers and do it for the love of it."
Anyone who wants to get involved can contact Sam Kelly at the Salford Victoria Theatre Trust via the Friends of The Salford Victoria Facebook group – click here
*See also previous Salford Star article - New Victoria Theatre Owner Considers Plans for Restoration - click here
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