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Charity saves century-old community theatre

Save Novello Picture House Interior of a small theatre auditorium with a brick-coloured carpet and a black stage area. The room has a wooden vaulted ceiling and painted murals on the walls depicting balcony boxes full of theatregoersSave Novello Picture House
Funds raised by the campaign group will pay for the internal theatre fittings

Campaigners working to save a run-down theatre from demolition are celebrating success after its sale to a charitable trust.

Novello Theatre in Sunninghill, Berkshire, has been bought by the Sunninghill Trust, which will also fund the building's refurbishment.

The 100-year-old former cinema will be linked to neighbouring Cordes Hall, with Cordes Hall Charity running both venues "as one vibrant arts hub".

Campaign coordinator Alan Everett described the development as "a fantastic outcome for local performers and residents".

Andy Tropia - AT Designed Artist's impression of the front of the picture house with a covered area over the pavement where there are tables and chairsAndy Tropia - AT Designed
Drawings of how the revamped theatre could look were unveiled in September

The historical building was owned by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead which, last year, gave campaign group Save Novello Picture House the opportunity to buy it before it was offered on the open market.

The purchase, which completed on Friday, will see the Sunninghill Trust "bring the building up to modern standards" and make it "available to the local community through an affordable lease" to the Cordes Hall Charity.

Funds raised by the campaign group will pay for the internal theatre fittings.

Mr Everett said: "We are deeply grateful to the Sunninghill Trust for their generous support.

"We look forward to continuing our partnership with the trust during the initial refurbishment phase and ultimately bringing this much-loved historical building back to life."

Google Google Street View of the Novello Theatre and Cordes Hall. Novello Theatre - on the right - is a white, pebbledashed, single-storey building with a white wooden-clad portico over the pavement. Next door is the entrance to Cordes Hall, which appears to be just one storey and built with ornate red brickwork. A tall double pitched roof runs at 90 degrees to the road and sits on two large, matching gable ends above the entrance.Google
The theatre and neighbouring Cordes Hall will be managed by a single charity

The Sunninghill Trust was established in 1813 and provides allotments and grants to relieve hardship and help the community.

A trust spokesperson said: "We are delighted to announce our significant support for this project by bringing an underutilised asset back into community use.

"The theatre sits right in the heart of our support area.

"We look forward to working closely with the Cordes Hall Charity on this project."

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