Dramatic turn for community facility
Published: 5 August 2020
A new community facility in Alphington is set to take a dramatic turn thanks to funding from Exeter City Council.
Alphington Community Association (ACA) is on the verge of completing the construction of a Drama studio in the village.
Alphington Community Theatre (formerly The Shed), will be used for Music and Drama rehearsals and productions once ‘COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
Locals are busy raising funds to cover the final element of the project, the flooring.
Once it is finished, community groups will be able to use the space – subject to social distancing requirements, until it can be used for its primary purpose, drama.
Exeter City Council has helped the Association, giving a £80,000 Strategic Grant to the Drama Studio. They also help with funding for the previous refurbishment of the adjoining Village Hall which has been transformed in 2017.
The new Drama studio - seen above, before and after the transformation - will have joint use of the kitchen and toilet facilities in the Village Hall, creating a multi-purpose community facility. The long overdue new facilities will better serve a village which is rapidly expanding and changing.
Kath Sidgwick, Secretary of the ACA, said they were extremely grateful for the “generous support from the Council, as the combined project (Village Hall and Drama Studio) cost £560,000; £200,000 of which came from a Viridor grant, with additional support from local fund-raising and other Charity funding”.
“Unfortunately, it will be some time before this space will be used as a theatre, due to government regulations. Until then, we aim to use this as extra space for the social distancing needed for existing groups as we gradually reopen the Village Hall for community use. We are intending to have an official opening in the near future.”
“We are hopeful that this new space will become a very active centre for arts in this community,” she added.
Cllr Amal Ghusain, Lead Councillor for Equality, Diversity and Communities, said: “It is thrilling to see this fantastic community facility coming together and ready to be used. I have no doubt that once it’s up and running, the drama studio will be a valuable asset for the people in Alphington to enjoy and cherish.”