The show will go on in Whitehill & Bordon after East Hampshire District Council agreed to give The Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre £200,000 for refurbishments and explore locations for a new future venue in the town centre.

The town’s much-loved theatre, on Station Road, is in need of some modernisation.

To keep the facility centre-stage in the town, £200,000 of Whitehill & Bordon developers’ contributions will be used to give the building a make-over and provide facilities that could be transferred to a new purpose-built centre.

Over the next few years, as the town centre develops, the council will work with the town centre developers to explore the possibility of a new Phoenix Theatre & Arts Centre elsewhere in the town.

Rob Allerston, Director of The Phoenix, said: “This is fantastic news and potentially very exciting.

“The Phoenix Theatre and Arts Centre still has a huge role to play in the town but is now in need of some work to ensure the building can cater for our expanding range of activities.

“We are delighted to hear £200,000 will be allocated to us by EHDC to give the building the attention it needs and help us produce our thrilling and varied arts programme.

“But the prospect of a new building to move into in the future, one that can become a cultural hub for the growing town, is tremendously exciting and would help make the town a destination for visitors.

“There’s a lot of work to do before then, but in the meantime we can use the developers’ contributions to get the centre almost as good as new!”

Cllr Ferris Cowper, EHDC’s Portfolio Holder for Whitehill & Bordon, said: “This thriving theatre benefits the whole town and keeping it looking smart and spruce is an excellent use of these funds.

“The regular activities at The Phoenix contribute to the vibrant and stimulating cultural life of the Whitehill & Bordon. It’s the beating heart of the town and it would be fantastic if we could give it a brand new stage appropriately located in the heart of the town.”