We all want to see the Ayr Gaiety curtain rise again

Jul 16 2010 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

We all want to see the Ayr Gaiety curtain rise again

PEOPLE are getting behind the bid to reopen Ayr’s Gaiety Theatre.

And bumper cheques have come in from ladies in Symington and men in Girvan.

Gaiety Partnership chairman Iain Brown thanked both groups.

And he admitted: “We need all the help we can get, and are tremendously grateful.

“We hope many more groups like the Symington ladies and Girvan Rotarians will get behind us now.

“This should help persuade South Ayrshire Council to hand over the keys in September and allow us to get the work underway.”

Mr Brown added: “Our plans are now complete and will be available for public inspection shortly. We have artist’s impressions showing what the front of the new Gaiety will look like.

“There are drawings of the cafe/wine bar, which will retain the name Popplewell’s, and will show the new staircase, refurbished auditorium and the Gaiety art centre and rehearsal studio.”

Gaiety Partnership directors have also met with the management team at Pitlochry FestivalŠTheatre.

Mr Brown said: “The Pitlochry people say ours is a very exciting project. They can see what a beautiful wee theatre we have.

“And our plans will allow us to attract high quality shows from around the country.

“This will bring people to the town – and at Pitlochry, for instance, 80 per cent of their market is from visitors.

“That’s the sort of market we should be aiming for too.”

The ladies of Symington put on a brilliant strawberry tea which raised a splendid £500 for the Gaiety Partnership.

The venue was Birch Tree Cottage, home of Vivien Harrison, and around 50 turned out for the event.

Mrs Harrison said: “We knew from the Ayrshire Post that the Gaiety Partnership was looking for groups to raise funds.

“We all want it open as quickly as possible and we passionately believe that the partnership directors are keen to get on and deliver the project as a working theatre again.”

Mrs Harrison said she and her friends are now planning another fundraiser for the theatre in the autumn.

The Rotary of Club of Girvan handed over a cheque for £1000 to the Gaiety.

The money was raised from a whisky raffle stall at the Carrick Lowland Gathering.

New club president Dr Jim Anderson said the club was wholeheartedly behind the Gaiety project.

Any individual, group, club or organisation that would like to help should contact the office at 86 High Street, Ayr, by email at gaietyhighst@btconnect.com or by telephoning one of the volunteers between 10am and 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday, on 01292 611482.