The Keay Theatre is to be re-established as a major venue for performing arts thanks to investment from Cornwall College St Austell. 

The 224-seat venue is located on the campus, and the funds will go towards updating the theatre’s technical specification and upgrading equipment, including sound desk, lighting desk and PA system, as well as supporting programming, marketing and outreach initiatives to engage with local audiences.

The Keay has recently enjoyed two sold-out shows: All Seasons: A Jersey Boys Tribute, and a modern take on a Shakespeare play delivered by the college’s acting students alongside budding thespians from Poltair School. It also hosts films and exhibitions, as well as forums and conferences for students and the community. 

Anneka Wass, curriculum area manager at Cornwall College St Austell, said: “We’re very excited about the new investment – not only will it allow us to bring in a variety of professional acts to entertain our local communities, but also to better support amateur dramatics groups in the area.

“It has been great to see so many people coming to support the theatre. The audiences were saying how exciting it was to have such professional and entertaining productions so close to home.”

The planned improvements follow a recent announcement of significant investment from the Department for Education into a brand-new, purpose-built campus at Cornwall College St Austell. 

“The whole campus is about to undergo a significant transformation,” said head of campus David Atkinson-Beaumont. 

“During this time, the Keay Theatre will be a crucial teaching space for our creative courses, community events and even staff wellness groups such as the staff choir. 

“Once the rebuild is complete, the Keay will be an even more fundamental part of our day-to-day activities, as it’ll be next to the new main entrance and act as a focal point for the site.”

David continued: “We’re very proud of the Keay and its role as a melting pot for creatives in St Austell. It’s a space where performing arts students meet schools and the community to work together to create amazing memories. In addition to the expanded offer of shows and experiences that will be available to the public, we’re excited how this new investment will help to enrich our student experience even further.”

The theatre opened in John Keay House in 2004 and ran commercially until 2011, when it closed for a decade, and was used as a teaching space and for local productions until reopening to commercial shows in April 2022. 

General manager Jonathan Stamp was present for its launch in 2004, and returned to take the reins last year; he is celebrating the first anniversary of reopening, while 2023 represents its first full programme of events until Christmas. 

“While the theatre was well supported by the community for the first five years, it had started losing money and was costing a lot to run. That’s why it closed to commercial productions,” he explains.

“Now the college wants the theatre to be at the forefront of the college again, and I want to get more events for the community: live music that’s accessible to most people, not at ridiculous prices. There wasn’t really anywhere to go without having to go to Falmouth or Plymouth.” 

The theatre is currently showing Young Frankenstein The Musical by St Austell Amateur Operatics Society until April 8, then tribute acts The U2 Experience on May 5, I’m Every Whitney on May 6 and The Freddie & Queen Experience on June 9. 

• For further details, visit www.cornwall.ac.uk/thekeay