Regal Theatre plans unveiled
New charity at the forefront
Plans to put the Regal Theatre at the heart of Bathgate again will be unveiled at a public meeting next week.
The theatre’s lease was awarded to Glasgow-based Reconnect Scotland earlier this year and the founder of the charity has big plans for the venue and wants to put the local community centre stage.
It ’ s founder, Peter Sneddon, said Reconnect is a brand new charity and its aim is to “evolve cultural heritage” and the Regal will be its first project.
Pete said he has worked in live entertainment for his entire career and has specialised in small venue management over the last decade, re-opening Cottiers theatrical space in Glasgow 2011 and launching Websters Theatre - also Glasgow - in 2014.
Pete was also operations director of SCENEgineering during this time, now having sold his share in this company to focus on charitable endeavours. He launched Reconnect to utilise historic buildings and landscapes to teach the reconnective arts while providing sustainability for the community.
Pete told the Courier: “The plan with the Reconnect Regal Bathgate is to use the core Reconnect team to get the venue flourishing with community activity and then train up local people to manage the venue for the community benefit, allowing the charity’s core team to support them and provide professional back up.
“The core team includes Mark Boyle, also a veteran of the entertainments industry and a film maker and photographer.
“Mark will head up the operational side while I deal with venue development. The charity intend to raise funds to restore the building’s Art Deco design features to the look and character of when she opened in the 1930s.”
Pete said a public meeting being held on Friday, June 15, from 7pm will give people a chance to have their say on how the venue develops.
Individual meetings also take place on June 16 from 10am to 4pm and can be booked by e-mailing pete@ reconnectregalbathagte.com or in person the day before.
He continued: “The meeting is open to anyone that wishes to have a one-toone chat with us to discuss their ambition within the Reconnect Regal Bathgate.”