THIRTY years ago it was the disused storage for fruit and vegetables, but now Ilminster’s Warehouse Theatre is a vibrant community hub and looks set for a £100,000 expansion.

The theatre, in Brewery Lane, is home to the Ilminster Entertainment Society (IES) and Ilminster Youth Theatre (IYT), both run entirely by volunteers.

But the youth theatre in particular is “bursting at the seams”, says theatre trustee Malcolm Young, with 76 members and a growing waiting list, so the time is right to grow.

Mr Young said: “IES and IYT present about seven shows a year while the theatre is regularly used by all our local schools, the Thursday Group, and the Cinema at the Warehouse, as well as an increasing number of incoming professional shows.

“Our success means that we are bursting at the seams and in order to develop and ensure our future we need extra space. We have finally reached an agreement with the vendor to purchase the Old Bakery building adjoining the theatre, subject to being able to raise the required money by the end of March next year. We have to raise in the region of £100,000.

“While we will now apply for grants and write to commerce and industry asking for their help, we are once again appealing to the people of Ilminster to help us.

Lucy Driver, who runs IYT, said: “It is great. It will be an amazing opportunity for the children. We are bursting at the seams and it is great to have the chance to expand. The Youth Theatre has a massive waiting list.

“They will be able to get involved with more of the prop design, set making and choreography side of things. Hopefully we will be able to get a few more workshops going too.”

Mr Young added: “Ilminster Youth Theatre is an integral part of the Warehouse Theatre. They are throwing themselves into fundraising with enormous enthusiasm and have all sorts of activities planned from cake and plant sales to car cleaning and dog walking.

“Each child is being given £5 to start them off and the enterprise is being called the Youth Theatre Apprentice.

“This year sees the 70th anniversary of Ilminster Entertainments Society and 35 years of our youth theatre.

“A little more than 30 years ago, we set out to buy the old fruit and vegetable warehouse in Brewery Lane, and in 1987 it opened as the Warehouse Theatre. That is now probably the finest community theatre in the county, thanks mainly to the generosity of the people of Ilminster and district.

“A lot of people don’t realise that this is all run by volunteers.

“We aren’t going to ask anyone for a lot of money, but we are going to be asking a lot of people for a little bit.”

People can buy a brick for £10, become a member for £15, endow a seat for £50, or just make a donation.

For more information, visit thewarehousetheatre.org.uk.

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