Popular theatre group the Lowestoft Players have celebrated the completion of a new step in their project, From Bethel to Theatre.

Eastern Daily Press: Lowestoft Players Deanne Dickson & Mayor. Picture by Mick HowesLowestoft Players Deanne Dickson & Mayor. Picture by Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The refurbished facility was opened at an event attended by Lowestoft mayor Nick Webb and his wife Sarah, Waveney MP Peter Aldous and present and past leadership of the Lowestoft Players theatrical group.

The improvements include new double-glazed windows, new stage lights, a new kitchen area, two new toilets including one for people with disabilities, and sliding doors to separate a performance studio into two studios.

Marketing director for the Players, James Atkin, said: 'This will be a great asset to all the Players and everyone who uses the facilities. The refurbished area looks fresh and really makes a difference to the facilities – a major improvement.

'We hope that with the improvements made this will encourage other groups to use this wonderful facility.'

In all, the refurbishment, seen as the second step in the transformation of the old Fishermen's Bethel into the new Players' Theatre, amounted to the sum of £88,000.

A large proportion of this funding came from WREN, the body through which the Landfill Communities Fund donates a percentage of landfill tax to suitable projects to improve the amenity of the area for the general public.

Funding also came from other sources including the Suffolk Foundation, the Awards for All programme of the Big Lottery Fund, the Geoffrey Watling Charity in Norwich, the Adnams Charity in Southwold, and Suffolk county councillors Janet Craig, Sonia Barker, Peter Byatt, Len Jacklin, Keith Patience, Derek Hackett and Bill Mountford – who contributed funds from their Locality Budgets.