RAIN WILL not stop play at a Blackburn theatre, bosses have vowed.

Staff at the Thwaites Empire Theatre are trying to raise £100,000 to repair a leaky roof which is damaging costumes.

Michael Berry, the fund-raising director at the venue who is credited with reopening the theatre in Aqueduct Street after it lay derelict for years, said buckets have to be placed strategically to catch the drips.

Now he is determined that rain will not stop play and on the eve of the venue’s 100th birthday he has organised an auction to raise the cash needed to repair the roof.

He said: “We have to do something pretty sharpish as we will not survive another winter with the roof like it is at the moment.

“If we don’t take any action by this time next year it will be like a colander.

“We need to replace both roofs on the red brick auditorium and the more modern performing arts centre used for rehearsals, administration, dressing rooms and storage.”

Built as a cinema for silent films in 1910, it was popular with cinema-goers until multiplex screens became the newest venues.

After falling into disrepair, it was back in the 1970s when a dedicated band of enthusiasts set up a charity aimed at providing Blackburn with a theatre that would be a focal point for amateur arts and entertainment.

The charity raised £800,000 in 10 years, and three years ago the major refurbishment of the old Empire building was complete, creating a theatre for 320 people.

Over the years it has been known as the Electric Light Theatre, the Barn, The Empire, The Red Brick, the Thwaites Theatre and now, finally, the Thwaites Empire Theatre.

Bidding for the auction opens online at www.empire100.co.uk on November.

There will also be a VIP Gala Dinner at Blackburn Rovers on March 6 next year.

Mr Berry said: “The whole community have rallied round once again to provide us with some fabulous gifts from luxury holidays to fitted kitchens.

“There’s also been the more unusual things like a hundred Hollands Pies, teeth whitening treatments and even a Walkabout Cyberman.

“They would make some fantastic Christmas presents.”

For a printed catalogue of the 100 available items or to make a postal bid call Mr Berry on 07931 639798.