Gainford Theatre suffered extensive damage from a severe flood in January 2024. The amount of water that came through the ceiling and into the theatre was devastating, impacting the seats, curtains, stage, flooring, lighting and ceiling.

It’s been a tough journey, but we’re making good progress with contractors appointed to oversee the refurbishment. Over the summer, they have reconstructed the ceiling with new plastering and redecorated the walls.

Recently, the seats were removed and sent off-site for professional cleaning, whilst the wooden plinths they sit on have been demolished and are set to be rebuilt. Specialist Contractors have been appointed to repair and clean our cherished Victorian Quarry tiled floor, preserving its historic beauty.

The restoration continues, with a target date of completion early 2025.

A special thank you goes out to Ian Hanmer, who has been instrumental in handling the insurance side of things and ensuring that the repairs stay on track. Without his dedication, we wouldn’t be as far along in the process as we are now.

We’re deeply saddened by the fact that we haven’t been able to host any plays this year and look forward to a grand re-opening in 2025. We plan to re-open with a blockbuster Spring production worthy of a relaunch and look forward to seeing you all again. We remain committed to making sure that when we do reopen, the theatre will be better than ever and is something our village can be proud of.