The Theatre Royal Bath’s Main House is undergoing its first major refurbishment in nearly 30 years.

Over two months it will be transformed before re-opening on September 7 with a production of The Rivals starring Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles, directed by Peter Hall. Productions are continuing to be staged at Theatre Royal’s Ustinov and egg theatres.

The refurbishment will see a programme of essential work undertaken front-of-house and back stage to conserve and update the Main House. The foyer will be re-modelled and the foyer roof repaired. Disabled access will be improved and a new lift installed in the foyer serving the Stalls and the Royal Circle. Decoration in the Main House will be restored and updated, and a new stalls bar will be created.

The stage floor will be re-laid and a new fire alarm system installed. Vital mechanical and electrical systems will be updated, including new boilers and a new air handling unit, improving energy efficiency.

The Refurbishment Project will cost approximately £3 million. The Theatre Royal Bath, which is a registered charity, is funding a significant amount of the total budget required itself. An appeal was launched in October 2009 to raise the remaining funds.

Midas, winners of the Construction Company of the Year Award at The Insider Property Awards 2009, is working alongside architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.

In 1982, the theatre reopened after a 15-month closure for a total renovation which included the addition of a new fly tower. In 1999, the theatre closed for a month when new seating was installed in the auditorium by Midas and the balcony tiers were strengthened.

Anyone who is keen to see pictures of the refurbishment work to date can do so by logging on to the Theatre Royal website www.the atreroyal.org.uk and following the “Flickr” link.