The Burnley Empire Trust (BET) are a small group of volunteers who are committed to restoring and reopening the Burnley Empire for community use
Earlier this year we commissioned a Stage House Viability Study thanks to the help and support of Architectural Heritage Fund to assess the potential of returning part of the building, specifically the stage house, back to public use.
The results of the study outlined an approach that would create a meantime use for part of the building which would still be in line with the longer-term aspiration of returning the whole venue back to public use.
Over the past year, the stage house has undergone major clear-out works to enable safe access but to move onto the next stage of the project we need to carry out essential roof repairs to make the area wind and water tight.
Our target is £35,000 which will cover the following essential costs:
- Stage House (right side) roof, window repairs and roof maintenance, £17,000.
- Birdcage scaffolding to reach the roof in the stage house, £18,000.
We recently celebrated a huge milestone by opening the Burnley Empire and welcoming the public for the first time since 1995, with limited access due to the stage house condition.
We’re turning to the public once again to ask if you can help make a difference to the building by helping us raise for the roof and donate towards essential roof repairs to further stabilise the building and move the project forward.
Our next milestone will be to carry out the essential roof repairs above the stage to further stabilise the Empire and move the project forward which will inevitably create public access further inside the Grade II Listed venue and especially in time for the Empire’s 130th opening anniversary next year.
'To place the Burnley Empire Theatre in both architectural and theatrical perspective it is important to understand how this building sits in both a regional and national context. Remaining historic theatres are few, good ones are rare, and the erosion of the nation’s theatre buildings has only slowed down during the last ten years. Prior to this the wholesale demolition and destruction of theatre buildings was seen almost as an essential part of inner city renewal. Today the opposite view is the reality.' - David Wilmore, TheatreSearch
Our project is not just about restoring beautiful architecture; this is about building a new space that through its work will support local businesses and people and bring prosperity to Burnley, both in economic and social terms. Please give what you can as all donations make a difference to the building and make sure you're following our progress @BurnleyEmpire on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter).
By supporting this Crowdfunder appeal to raise for the roof you will be directly helping to save the iconic building and helping towards reopening the Burnley Empire.
THANK YOU in advance for any donations made towards the stage house roof works. Any funds raised over our target will go directly towards making a difference to the restoration and reuse of the Burnley Empire.