The "Shaftesbury Quest" was launched in 1999. The main aims of the project were to rake the auditorium and provide level access to the theatre, plus provision for wheelchairs (phase 1), to site new cloakrooms and disabled facilities under the rake of the auditorium, thus opening up the front of the theatre to make a large foyer with improved box office space (phase 2) and finally to provide a flying tower and other backstage improvements (phase three)

Phase 1 of the project was completed by contractors, ROK,  in January 2005 and phase 2 (again undertaken by ROK) in April 2007. A total in excess of £200,000 has been spent on the work so far. Phase 3 is yet to come.

A "Carpet Fund" was initiated to obtain funding for the carpet in the new foyer area and we are now launching a fund to pay for 6 back-lit stained glass windows for the auditorium. In January 2006 Teignbridge District Council funded a workshop which was organised by our commissioned artist Chink Grylls. Drawings were produced of characters from plays, pantomimes, ballet, operettas etc. and these have been transformed by Chinks Grylls into fascinating window designs. A display of these can be seen in the theatre foyer and donations/sponsorship is invited by buying a section of a window.

The Quest team is formed from volunteers from the Company and their task has been to raise the necessary funds to allow the improvements to go ahead. This has been achieved by making  national grant applications, contacting local businesses, by applications to the Lottery and other charitable organisations and through members' own fund raising events. We have been fortunate to receive £30,000 from Dawlish Town Council and £15,00 from Ugbrooke environmental.

If you are interested in finding out more about "The Shaftesbury Quest", or have any ideas for fundraising, or wish to make a contribution, we would be delighted to hear from you.