Former Faringdon theatre to get a new life

Residents have been fundraising for three years in a bid to take over a former Faringdon theatre, behind the town’s Pump Room in Market Place.

Now the group of volunteers, organised by local parents, have been handed the keys to the building after the town council agreed to lease it to them.

The three-year rent-free lease means the group’s dreams of turning the empty building into a community resource can begin to become a reality.

The main purpose for the new venue will be as a “parkour” or free-running venue, but other facilities like a dance space and graffiti wall are being planned.

Local Scouts pitched in to clear the venue out and now builders have now started insulation and plastering work.

Volunteers have raised £40,000 that will pay for the building’s electrics to be upgraded, a new heating system, and repairs to the dilapidated gutters.

The town’s businesses have also offered to supply everything from full-length mirrors to three years’ worth of toilet rolls free of charge.

Lou Smith was inspired to try to give her son 14-year-old son Frankie and his friends a venue when they began free-running.

She said: “It’s amazing, I can’t believe we’ve finally done it.

“Over the last two years the town council has seen what we want to do and has agreed to lease the building to us for free for three years.

“We have raised £40,000 and we have lots of groups coming in to help with the painting and decorating.

“This is a real community project, and is based on what the kids want to do.”

Her son Frankie added: “There aren’t many places to do stuff around town at the moment.

“When the work is all finished it will be really interesting.”

His friend and fellow 14-year-old free runner Torin Brown, of Carters Crescent, Faringdon, said he was amazed at how different the building already looked.

Work on the building is expected to continue until July 5.

A grand opening event will be held on July 12 from 6pm to 8pm.