Perth Theatre bosses are confident they can reach their £1.5 million fundraising goal before the venue is ready to re-open.
Horsecross Arts, the creative force behind the city centre venue’s redevelopment, has announced it has already made £400,000 towards the final total.
The campaign has been boosted by awards and donations from several trusts and foundations, as well as money from seat dedications.
Horsecross has already confirmed pledges of £15.1 million towards the £16.6 million transformation from, amongst others, Perth and Kinross Council, Creative Scotland, the Gannochy Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The final phase of £1.5 million is to help fully kit out the restored and redevelopment building.
Construction has reached a further milestone with gilding work under way at the B-listed auditorium.
A massive crane, which arrived at the site last summer, has finished its work and will be removed later this month.
Gwilym Gibbons, chief executive of Horsecross Arts, said: “We are delighted to be nearly a third of the way towards reaching our £1.5 million fundraising target to fully kit out the transformed Perth Theatre.
“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and commitment of all our funders.
“From the individual who throws a few coins into a collection tin, to substantial awards from trusts and foundations to our key funders and partners who have put millions into the project, everyone can look forward with excitement to what we are achieving together.”
He said: “We are confident we will meet our funding target and deliver the finished theatre on time, on budget and ready for future generations of theatre lovers to enjoy.”
Kevin Dickson, regional managing director of builders Robertson Tayside said: “The removal of the crane will mark a huge leap forward as we close in the building envelope, enabling us to complete the full internal restoration of Perth Theatre.
“As one of Scotland’s oldest repertory theatres, sensitive renovation work is crucial and our priority now is to continue with the gilding of the auditorium to really bring the theatre back to life.
“We want to provide the perfect backdrop for the creative community, performers and theatre goers to enjoy.”
The organisations which have backed Horsecross during the last stage of funding include the Dunard Fund, the Hugh Fraser Foundation, the Foyle Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, the Barcapel Foundation and the Baldoukie Charitable Trust.
Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “The Wolfson Foundation has its roots in Scotland and we are always delighted to be funding outstanding Scottish projects.
“The ambitious plans for Perth Theatre certainly fall into that category and we were particularly impressed by the visionary aim to create a centre of excellence for young people and emerging talent.”
The council’s depute provost Bob Band, a member of the Perth Theatre Redevelopment Board, said: “Perth Theatre is a very important and much loved part of the cultural landscape of Perth.
“As we work towards submitting Perth’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2021, it’s great to see the transformation of Perth Theatre reach this stage, bringing closer the day when the theatre reopens, bringing new and returning audiences to the city.”
