A £3 million project has begun to transform and extend the Leicester theatre where Richard Attenborough made his stage debut.
Leicester Drama Society which owns the Little Theatre in Dover Street wants to build a new studio as part of its centenary project. But it needs to raise funds so that it can expand into the building next door—a health centre for the homeless and other disadvantaged groups—which is moving.
The city council has offered to transfer ownership of the site to the drama society if it can secure planning permission and the funding to build the extension.
Jenny Harding, chair of the board of trustees at Leicester Drama Society, said, “this is a wonderful opportunity. For many years we’ve been hoping that one day we’d be able to extend next door. It’s even more exciting as it coincides with our centenary in 2022. Having these wonderful new facilities would be a great way to start our next 100 years.”
More than 30,000 visitors use the Little Theatre’s auditorium each year and it won the award for “best venue over 200 people” at the Leicester Comedy Festival in 2012, 2016 and 2017.
The late Lord Attenborough made his debut at the theatre in a production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in 1937. He was also a patron and honorary life president of Leicester Drama Society.
Further details about the centenary project can be found at the Little Theatre web site.