THE curtains will soon be rising on a new drama society in Lydford.
The granting of almost £4,000 by the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust for new curtains and drapes will enable the group, under Fred Still, to go ahead with providing a platform for a great variety of productions, including amateur dramatics, light opera, folk evenings and variety, according to David Sharples, one of the team currently up-dating the 70-year-old building.
'It will offer local talent the opportunity to perform in pleasant surroundings, and provide the people of Lydford and the surrounding areas the advantage of evenings out in the local hall,' he said.
Mr Sharples said a recent referendum had shown locals overwhelmingly in support of bringing the 1929 Nicholls Hall into the 21st century and it was currently receiving what he described as a large dose of tender, loving care, upgrading and general improvement.
The roof is being insulated at the moment and new 'state-of-the-art' lighting is being installed for indoor sports, such as badminton.
The next job is to install wall insulation and to paint the interior, which, up to now, has just been bare breeze-blocks.
'We have to provide the best possible facilities for all those activities,' said Mr Sharples. 'We hope, eventually, to have a proper background heating system put in — it is a very, very cold hall.
'Once completed it will provide a most pleasant environment in what is basically a very sound public building, and at the same time enhance the activities and reduce heating costs.'