In autumn 2017 individual customers, local arts groups and local companies helped raise the sum of £70, 000 allowing the Eastgate to access enough finance from a range of public funding sources to transform the theatre auditorium.

On Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 January between 2 and 5 pm you are invited to visit the theatre where there will be an opportunity to test sample seats, see artist impressions of options to  bring the side galleries into full use and talk with representatives from the Project Design Group about these designs, the planned time table for the work and the ambition to move onto the next development phase –  staged improvements to the ground floor foyer and café areas.