Trinity Theatre is to apply for almost £2million in lottery funding as part of a plan to boost the town’s appeal as ‘a strong heritage destination’.
Much of the money would be used on a major makeover of the 188 year old, grade II* Decimus Burton designed church building.
Those behind Trinity, now celebrating its 35th year in the town, want to unlock the history of the building, making it more accessible to both residents and visitors alike.
Building on Trinity’s existing role and place in the community, it’s hoped that the venue can extend and enhance its heritage offering.
It is envisaged this will involve telling stories of the town’s history, showcasing Trinity’s historical building which will include opening up the clocktower to show off views of Tunbridge Wells and its surrounding countryside. Visitors will also have the opportunity to discover Trinity’s cultural ethos.
The theatre’s Artistic Director John Martin told the Times yesterday [Tuesday]: “This is an exciting step forward in the next stage of our development. This will enable us to preserve our wonderful building and also build on what we are doing by exploring our heritage in a uniquely theatrical way.”
To achieve this, Trinity is applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a £1.8m grant. This will contribute to repairs to the stonework, glasswork (including conservation of the impressive stained-glass east window) and to the roof. This is to stop further water leaks which are currently damaging the building. The grant will also go towards other repairs and the opening up of any degraded internal spaces.
If awarded, the HLF grant will also enable Trinity to offer a programme of ‘innovative’ heritage activities in collaboration with the town’s Cultural Hub.
To engage as many people as possible and to extend the consultation beyond its existing audiences, Trinity has created a brief survey and is calling for people’s views and perspectives to help inform its plans.
The results will directly contribute to the
success of the lottery application.
To take part visit www.trinitytheatre.net/about and follow the link to the survey.
