TF redevelopment

€6m redevelopment will transform TF

Michael Duffy

CASTLEBAR will soon be home to the second largest live entertainment building in the country if hoteliers Pat and Mary Jennings get planning approval for major redevelopment plans for their TF Royal Theatre.
The seating capacity of the building will now rise to 2,000 (from 1,500) and standing capacity will go up to a massive 3,500 people (from 2,000). Mr Jennings said the aim of the redevelopment was to have ‘the premier venue for the promotion of the arts, music, theatre and social events in the west of Ireland here in Castlebar’.
It is anticipated that the work will cost in the region of €6 million and is set to commence early next Spring with a view to being ready for Summer 2008.
Included in these new plans is a West End Production stage with a new Fly Tower over the existing stage which will have flying facilities and room to house sets in the roof area. 
There will be three levels of changing rooms at the back of the stage, a new roof over the auditorium, which will be approximately two metres higher than the existing roof, a glazed pedestrian bridge link at the first floor from the western side of the theatre to an existing glazed pedestrian bridge and there will also be new retractable upholstered seating. Due to the increased capacity of the theatre, a new dedicated Ticket Box Office is set to open in August 2007 and will be situated adjacent to the Royal Theatre.
For many years now, the theatre has attracted some of the biggest acts on the Irish circuit with ice shows, operas, comedy, music gigs, musicals, cabarets, plays, orchestras and children’s shows all taking place with regularity.