Over £200,000-worth of time and material has been given to the Montrose Playhouse Project during a DIY SOS fundraiser.
The startling figure has been described as a conservative estimate by the team behind the £2.5 million community art centre and cinema project.
A volunteer team of local tradesmen and DIY enthusiasts spent a gruelling six weeks stripping the building back to its shell to allow renovation work to start.
Chairman David Paton said the team have been overwhelmed with the support received during the first phase of the project, which is now ahead of schedule.
He said local firms and individuals have been instrumental in taking the building back to its bare bones, with around 70 local volunteers on hand to assist at every turn.
“The support is truly humbling, and testament to the community really wanting this facility on their doorstep,” he said.
“We have conservatively estimated after only six weeks of the strip-out that over £200,000 of time and material has been given to the project by local people and businesses which is incredible.
“The Playhouse would not only provide a fantastic place to spend time with friends and family but would also be an engine for social change in the area with the range of programmes we are hoping to implement when the facility is open, from dementia screenings in the cinema to traineeship opportunities for those with learning difficulties.
“The Playhouse will be at the heart of culture and community in the area
“Many local companies have donated time and materials including WM Mustard & Son Ltd, Drain Dogs Ltd, Pert Bruce Construction, Andrew Walker Ltd, Unicorn Cleaning Services, Candy’s Sandwiches, Glaxo SmithKline, Engie from GE Oil & Gas, ScotMitch Scaffold, Peters & Hynd Joinery, Saltire Builders and RossAgri Services to name a few.”
Mr Paton gave special thanks to Steve Hutchison, George Abbot, Colin Menzies, Ian Edwards and Shane Munro who have given up weeks of their free time.
Mr Paton said they are extremely excited about the prospect of moving the project on in 2018 although they still have a lot of fundraising to do.
He said: “We have opened talks with several larger grant bodies are we are working hard to meet the guidelines of their application processes to help move our project along.”
