Welsh Conservative Member of Parliament for Clwyd South, Simon Baynes MP, is backing a fundraising campaign by the Stiwt Theatre in Rhos to ensure repairs are made and the theatre is ready to welcome back visitors.
To raise the funds necessary to repaint the auditorium and repair a leaking roof, the Stiwt has launched an initiative whereby supporters can receive a long-lasting memento – a 13.5 kilo counterweight stamped with ‘Rhos Theatre’ – when they make a minimum donation of £20 to the fundraising campaign.
The counterweights have been previously been used in a system of ropes and pulleys backstage to hoist components such as curtains, lights, scenery, stage effects. The Stiwt has a surplus of counterweights which it is using in this fundraising campaign.
During the visit, Mr Baynes met Stiwt Theatre Trustee, Brian Jones and General Manager, Rhys Davies, who updated him on the campaign and the latest developments at the theatre. They also showed him the counterweight mechanism in action on the stage at the theatre. Mr Baynes also met with representatives of Ysgol y Grango who were delivering their donation of £450 to the Stiwt’s fundraising campaign following a very successful ‘Own Clothes Day’ at the school. The school was represented by Sue Jones, Head of Art and Design Technology at Ysgol y Grango, and Year 7 pupils, Maria Handzhieva and Theo Prime.
Brian Jones, Trustee of the Stiwt Theatre, said:
“Once again the support of our community is one to be commended which is greatly appreciated by everyone involved with our Theatre. On this occasion we are very pleased to offer everyone a memento of the Theatre which they can treasure going forward and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in due course. We would also like to thank Simon for his kind contribution once again.”
Mr Stephen Garthwaite, Headteacher of Ysgol y Grango, said:
“We are delighted to be able to support such an innovative fundraising campaign. The Stiwt is a central and historic part of our community and it provides a wonderful facility for the performing arts. We have always enjoyed a strong relationship with the Stiwt and we look forward to developing further partnerships, especially as we start our own level 2 performing arts course in September. I’m sure our performing arts students will enjoy linking up with the Stiwt during their course.”
Simon Baynes MP said:
“It was a pleasure to visit the Stiwt again to back their novel fundraising campaign and make a personal contribution myself to receive one of their unique counterweights which now sits proudly in my office. I think this is an innovative and exemplary way of raising funds, and a wonderful opportunity for members of the local community with an interest in the theatre and the local area to claim a piece of Rhos history. And I want to wish everyone at the Stiwt the very best of luck.”