Nov 2005  

Building extension complete.

The extension accommodates new toilets and disabled facilities, a fantastic new bar, and expands the theatre lounge and storage space. 

The extension was officially opened by Sarah Richards, Arts Officer, DMBC, on Saturday 19th November 2005.

‘The opening was an opportunity to say a big thank you to the many individuals and companies who have contributed in various ways to help make this happen,’ says theatre director Bob Geeson.

March 16th

"To close or not to close" - Was never the question

Work gets underway on the new extension to the theatre, Feb 2005. With courtesy to the ' The Retford Times'.

The Doncaster Metropolitan District Council informed BADS that a Theatre Licence would not be issued after August 2004 unless new toilet/disabled facilities were made available. This would have meant closure.

Already in early 2003 it had been established that an extension of the hall onto neighbouring land would cost (according to Industry estimating standards) in excess of £100K. A BADS Building committee was instructed to prepare an action plan and funding committees were established to raise the cash. The whole membership was trawled for the support and experience of people prepared to work as a team, that would help smooth the path.

The fund raisers developed a three pronged offensive. Firstly, to open the theatre for full Community use, so as to expand the use of the theatre and attract other organisations without their own local facilities e.g. DMBC South Community Forum. Secondly to raise money by organising events in the theatre to attract other arts and crafts events and widen the scope of entertainment e.g. musical events, fashion shows, antique fairs, etc. The third approach was to appeal for grants from Community Schemes and the Arts Council.

All three approaches met with enthusiastic response and support. The large grants sub-committee put many hours into meetings/ form filling and conversations with granting bodies which resulted in generous assistance from the Arts Council who granted us £37,000, the Bawtry Town Council, to date £1000, and the Community Forum £5000. In addition there have been generous donations from organisations and numerous individuals.

The balance of the £93000 required for the building has come from profits from BADS productions over the last 6/7 years and the efforts of the Fund Raising Events Committee.
Meanwhile the building committee was steadily moving forward. The adjacent land was purchased from the local council and planning permission obtained. Our supporting architect F.Mcnamee, was appointed as agent and tenders together with building regulation approval were sent out. Local response from builders was enthusiastic and competitive. The winning contractor, C.A.Moore and Sons of Great North Road, Scawthorpe, met all the criteria for the extension and health and safety, with a finish date agreed for April / May 2005, well in time to satisfy the requirements for our Theatre Licence from DMBC.

Of course, as is generally the case of all committees, we did not agree on every little detail. In addition to the decoration of the extension, our next task is to design the bar area, which will enable the volunteer barman to serve all customers without having to move from the spot (rather like a one man band), now why didn't the pubs think of that? Just as well we have a skilled team of set builders.