AN ACTOR has thrown his support behind a Romsey theatre's campaign to raise thousands of pounds in a bid to protect their £200,000 grant to improve the building.

The Romsey Amateur Operatic And Dramatic Society (RAODS) is aiming to rake in £10,000 to protect their reserves for the Plaza Theatre’s Future Project.

This will see the roof extended to create a higher building as part of their £550,000 plans.

This comes after a volunteer from RAODS, Kevin Cornmell, revealed it would be “catastrophic for the people of Romsey” if the group lost the council grant by using their reserves to fund the theatre’s running costs instead. This is £20,000 a year.

Now, a patron of RAODS, Mark McGann, has released a YouTube video urging the public to donate to the cause.

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Mark, who became a professional actor in 1980, said: "As one of the patrons of the Plaza Theatre, I just wanted to appeal on its behalf for your support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Many of our important art institutions and theatres are under incredible financial pressure at this time, with many closures happening weekly.

"It is more important than ever therefore to support local theatres like the Plaza, as they represent a vital piece in the regional theatre network providing quality and cost-effective entertainment."

He added: "The beautiful Plaza building in itself is a treasure worth protecting of course, but also the people who give their time voluntarily to run it are perhaps even more in need of your immediate support.

"So please, help to keep the Plaza open and functioning and give generously to our Crowdfunder campaign."

When asked how Kevin felt after discovering Mark had backed the Plaza's fundraising campaign, he said: "It is fantastic he is standing with us because to get celebrities to put their name to anything small is very hard, so we are very appreciative of Mark's support."

As reported, Kevin told the Romsey Advertiser if they manage to reach their £10,000 target they will look at fundraising for £20,000, which would take the "pressure off" the group for a year.

He added: “The main drive to raise this money is a couple of years ago we managed to get a Community Infrastructure Levy from Test Valley Borough Council to do some major rebuilding at the back of the theatre.

“We want to raise the stage roof so our lighting people can work above the lights and don’t have to use a ladder or scaffolding, which would be a great leap forward for health and safety.

“We are not in danger of dissolving like other theatres, but we will need our grant in a couple of years; if we keep spending our reserves to keep us going then they will go down, which means on that glorious day when we are told we have to match the grant we may not be able to."

To donate to the cause, visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/plazatheatreromsey.