Meeting place reborn 90 years on

A much-awaited facelift to the Plantagenet District Town Hall will be completed by January after local theatre group Plantagenet Players securing almost $200,000 in a Lotterywest grant.

Built in 1927, renovations on the hall began in January this year and the Lotterywest grant was obtained as stage five of the revamp.

The hall now has new toilet facilities, air-conditioning, retractable seating, a new paint job, a new stage and backstage area.

A new lighting and backdrop system will be soon added.

Plantagenet Players committee chairwoman Roxanne Mills said the process was started several years ago when the group and the Shire of Plantagenet decided to work together to improve the community.

“The district hall in the past has always been the centre of most towns, a meeting place, a place to go for dances, have your wedding, celebrations, a place of fun, over the years our hall has become underutilised,” she said. “It was a large space that could be difficult to fill and even more difficult to decorate for your event.

“It was a loss to our community that it was not used to its full potential ... in fact, it was a cold place in winter and the facilities needed upgrading and this funding has done that.”

Plantagenet Players is looking to kick off the new year with a masquerade ball in the new hall.

She said the group had been around for almost 65 years and was very excited for the bright future of local theatre.

“I am so proud of Plantagenet Players for having the vision to partner with the Shire in this project — it has been for myself a rewarding and interesting project,” she said.

“The Shire has entrusted the district hall to us and we take that very seriously.”