New board members have joined Kirkcaldy’s ambitious Kings Theatre rejuvenation project.
Fife Cultural Trust chief executive Heather Stuart is now on board, along with John Sim, John Murray and Steven Hay.
The team has been advising Grant Foster and his Kings Theatre team for several months now.
But now it was thought it should be formalised to help continue to drive the project forward.
It signals a strong partnership approach to breathing new life into the rundown cinema.
Mr Foster said: “We feel that by forming a cultural alliance with the trust, both groups can work together to offer a wider variety of culture and entertainment for Kirkcaldy and indeed Fife as a whole.
“Also, by sharing and creating dynamic programmes, this would help eliminate any potential clashes of creative programming between the two organisations.
“This is evidence of the positive partnership and joint working which has been going on between the King’s Theatre team and Fife Cultural Trust for some time now, and direct engagement of this nature will ensure we can build on that already strong partnership.”
Heather was delighted to be on the board, adding: “To have such a fantastic facility on our doorstep here in Kirkcaldy is something which I think we should all be positive about and support.
“I have no doubt that working together will enhance the cultural offer in the town to the benefit of everyone, and to both organisations, and I am looking forward to delivering on that ambition.
“Having been born and brought up in Kirkcaldy, I have fond memories of going to the ABC Cinema as a child – especially queueing down to the Prom to see Grease – and cannot believe the transformation which has already started, most recently in relation to the entrance area, where you start to see the beautiful art deco features of the building coming back to life.”
John Murray, the new chair of the organisation, was instrumental in the creation of Kingdom FM and K107 radio stations and the Kingdom Theatre Company and has helped advise on the project from the very beginning.
Kirkcaldy-born John Sim is currently CEO at PKF International, the network of legally independent accountancy firms.
He has previously helped in other projects around Kirkcaldy including Raith Rovers, The Old Kirk and Adam Smith Global Foundation.
Together with Steven Hay, who is an experienced accountant and company secretary, they ensure the project’s financial projections and sustainability are realistic.
