St Ives Theatre Regeneration

Originally formed by Phil Barnett in 1994 to encourage young people to get involved in the performing arts and support their development and the wider community, Kids R Us now work with around 100 children, teenagers and young adults a year. During the past 30 years they have staged more than 1500 performances in the theatre and won numerous awards.

Led by Kidz R Us, the refurbishment and upgrade of the existing theatre will provide an extended auditorium and new cafe / bar and reception area to support the future sustainability of the theatre.

As well as saving a historic building, the project will help to develop the existing theatre into a leading tourist attraction for the town, lengthening the season with more performances, daytime workshops and outreach programmes for schools.

It will also provide a facility for touring theatrical companies; improve the visitor experience and support the further expansion of theatre opportunities for local children and young people.

This will help to provide more permanent jobs and support the charity in its aims of introducing young performers and young audiences to the performing arts.

LATEST PROJECT NEWS 

Work on the second phase of the Town Deal funded project to refurbish and extend St Ives Theatre is now well underway.

Planning permission for the £1.5m St Ives Theatre Regeneration project was granted in January 2023, with work on the first phase – the roof and façade of the converted Wesleyan chapel – beginning later the same month. Work on the second phase began at the beginning of this year, with the transformed building due to re-open with a brand-new production in Easter 2025.

Home to award-winning youth theatre company Kidz R Us, the project involves providing an extended auditorium and new cafe / bar and reception area to support the future sustainability of the theatre. As well as saving a historic building, the project will help to develop the existing theatre into a leading tourist attraction for the town, lengthening the season with more performances, daytime workshops and outreach programmes for schools.

During the past few months the project team have been focusing on taking the interior of the building to bits and have now begun the wonderful task of putting her back together. 

The team been able to retain a lot of the original features, including the granite walls, some of the wooden panelling and the iconic chandeliers, at the same time as bringing the building up to date with modern equipment and technology to create a more vibrant space.  With elements they have not been able to retain, such as the organ, they will be repurposing parts in other areas of the building. They have also worked with a specialist contractor to protect and restore the stained glass windows.

The project also hosted a visit from representatives from the St Ives Town Deal Board and Cornwall Council in July to see the progress which is being made.