Hall For Cornwall Redevelopment – a month on since closure

Clearing the venue, yard sales & the loan of our grand piano

by Julien Boast, HFC CEO & Creative Director

It is hard to believe it is just over a month since The People’s String Foundation Orchestra staged their spectacular closing performance which had the audience up on their feet and dancing in the aisles. It was an amazing evening and I would like to thank everyone who joined us to mark the next chapter of our incredible journey to transform our theatre and build a new home.

I would also like to thank our staff who maintained their professionalism, passion and commitment for Hall For Cornwall right up to closure. It has been a challenging time for teams and I am pleased that so many took advantage of our training and support programme in the lead up to closure. We wish everyone lots of luck and look forward to staying in touch during the redevelopment.

As we prepare to formally hand over the keys to the building team next month, we have been packing up furnishings and technical equipment ready to go into storage. We have donated some equipment to local theatre companies and a local sheltered housing project. Our Steinway piano has been loaned to St Marys Church in Penzance and our upright piano to St Ives parish Church. Over the last month, we have held daily ‘Yard’ sales of other items. These have included kitchen equipment, tables and chairs, cups and saucers, wardrobe and props, desks and filing cabinets through to pairs of theatre seats.

We have seen many people buying items as mementoes of their visits to the theatre – one couple bought a pair of theatre seats for ‘cinema & popcorn’ nights when their grandchildren visit. Thank you to everyone who has helped support our ongoing fundraising campaign by buying something from the sale. I would particularly like to thank Truro Bid and all the local businesses for their support.

It has been wonderful hearing people’s memories of visiting us and receiving their good wishes for the renovation. Many have told us they can’t wait to visit the new building when it is completed in two years’ time and we share this excitement.

In the meantime, although we have raised 90% of our £19.8m re-build target, there’s still a way to go to make our aspirations for a new theatre a reality. Over the coming months we’ll be launching a series of initiatives for people to get involved and support our project and we hope we can count on you to play a part in our exciting next chapter.