Torquay's Princess Theatre to receive a £500k makeover

It's curtain up on a new-look, more plush - and comfier - future for Torquay's Princess Theatre.

The popular seafront venue has announced a £500,000 refurbishment programme to give the theatre a fresh and modern feel this spring.

Starting in May, the auditorium will undergo a major facelift, including replacing the seating, carpets, curtains and improving front of house areas. 

Significant funds have gone toward behind-the-scenes upgrades at the theatre recently.

But the Princess says it has been decades since noticeable investments were made in its audience spaces - so visitors are in for a treat!

Out go the red seats that have been in place since the theatre's 1961 grand opening; to be replaced by new, blue, modern seating to enhance comfort. 

Alongside new carpets and curtains, the ambience and experience in the theatre will feel completely different to anyone who has visited the theatre before.

Renovations are due for completion late May.

Amy Worsdale, Theatre Director at the Princess, says: “It is wonderful that Ambassador Theatre Group (who manage the Princess Theatre on behalf of Torbay Council) are investing significant funds into this project to improve the experience of all our visitors to the venue.

“It demonstrates ATG's commitment to our community so we can continue to be Torquay's home for world-class entertainment for generations to come.  

“We know that the shows we host here have a great impact on the local businesses and attract visitors to the Bay so this is great news not just for the theatre but the wider community.  

“I can't wait to re-welcome our audiences in the summer and see their reactions to the completed project." 

With the new seating brings a brand-new opportunity which has never been available at the Princess before. 

Theatre-lovers can now invest and adopt their own auditorium seat. 

A spokesman explained: “Whether you want to dedicate a seat to a loved one or celebrate a treasured memory of being in the Princess Theatre you can be part of the theatre's history with a personalised seat plaque.”

Anybody interested in more details should email TorquayEvents@theambassadors.com.