Westenders Theatre Group, based in Llanfaes, Brecon, are hoping to make significant upgrades to their building with planning permission in place and detailed design progressing, but are looking for help and support from the local community.

In order to receive vital funding from various organisations for the development, the group, that has been running for 77 years, is looking for other organisations who would be interested in using the space on a regular basis. The current Westenders Hall is used by the drama group for rehearsals, set making, meetings and costume storage, and is also used for dance classes, parties and as a polling station.

The building is in need of repair work and development. Bryan James from The Westenders explained: “The problem that we have got is that it’s an old Wesleyan Chapel. Structurally it’s fine, but around it are poorly constructed single concrete walls and wooden extensions, that are starting to rot and fall apart.

“It gets damp in the out buildings which obviously in terms of costume storage is a massive problem for us so there is absolute need for this upgrade, but the key thing is it will benefit us and the community.”

As shown on the plan the development would see an enlargement on the building and also transform the old Hall into three large versatile space rooms, multiple meeting rooms, storage rooms for furniture, props and costumes, and a laundry room and kitchen.

“We want to extend the building out further and put some meeting rooms in to help get new groups involved for committee meetings and functions,” said Bryan.

“This development will allow for more than one party at a time to use the building. We hope to use the small upper floor space for costume storage. The new plans also have an environmentally friendly aspect with ideas of LED lighting and solar panels.

“We’ll have lighting and sound for smaller performances and dance classes in the versatile spaces. Retractable walls between the spaces will provide lots of opportunities for different things to go on at once and the laundry services in the development means individuals won’t have to take home costumes after use and wash them; they can all be kept in one place, and then things are less likely to get lost.”

Westenders are looking for any groups who would be interested in using their building to come forward. “The funding organisations need us to demonstrate that more people in the community want to use the building and there is a need for it,” Bryan told The Brecon & Radnor Express. “We want organisations to come forward and tell us that they would really like to use our building, and have a need for something like our building.”

You can express your interest in using the building by completing the questionnaire via the QR code, you can also find the QR code on the Westenders Facebook page or come along to a Public Meeting at 7.30pm Wednesday 11th February at the Westenders hall where you can see and discuss the plans in more detail.

The Theatre group does wonderful work in the Brecon community, most recently holding a Santa’s Grotto at the Guildhall during Brecon With Bells On, which saw around 600 children visit Santa.

They are currently performing their annual pantomime production, which this year is Goldilocks and The Three Bears. The production usually sees the group sell around 3,500 tickets per year. They have been performing at Theatre Brycheiniog since it opened. This year’s show runs from Friday, 23 January to Saturday, 31 January.

Book tickets online at: Brycheiniog.co.uk or call 01874 611622