There is nothing like a visit to the Theatre that is of course if it is open. Regrettably the Doncaster Grand Theatre closed its doors to stage productions in 1961. The theatre then became a bingo hall for next thirty four years something that was to save it from demolition as all around was being demolished in what was once the main access from the town's railway station, Station Road. 
In 1995 Top Rank Bingo ceased to use the theatre for bingo then there was a attempt by an a well known insurance company to purchase the building and demolish it so that the Doncaster Frenchgate Centre could be extended.
Having lost the famous Doncaster Guildhall and a building that was once Doncaster's Infirmary in Princegate and its later days of use as education offices, the people of Doncaster were not about to see the famous Victorian building built in 1899 be a pile of rubble. Meetings were called and a group that is now called The Friends of Doncaster Grand Theatre was formed. The Doncaster Civic Trust got a Grade II listing on the building which has effectively stopped the bull dozers and the other equipment from munching its way through the building. Unfortunately work on the development of the new Frechgate Transport Interchange has seen endless delays in getting the restoration work underway.
Recently there has been a change of ownership of the Frenchgate Centre including the theatre that has resulted in work to make the building fully water tight. Some new lighting units have been added so that further work can be carried out. With the Theatres Trust and other official bodies the work to restore the theatre can if all goes to plan gather pace. There may have to be some major structural alterations so that the theatre can comply with today's health and safety regulations and to provide the facilities that a theatre has provide in the 2008 rather than those of 1899. An example the Victorian folk were not as tall and dare I we say well built as the people of today. Most importantly even though there may have to be some major changes the theatre will have to retain its Victorian theatre experience of décor and atmosphere.
It may take some time and some changes but at last the work to restore the theatre back to its former glory has started, but we have to be cautious with the change in today's financial climate The Friends of Doncaster Grand Theatre will need every support to ensure the theatres future and to keep the dreaded mechanical "munchers" at bay.

(Above) A dreaded machine "munching" away at the remains of the two former cooling towers affectionately known to the people of Sheffield as "Salt and Pepper" that were demolished earlier this year.
(Right) With the theatres mains power supply restored and extensive temporary lighting units on, a group visit took place to have a look at the theatre with other official bodies. The ground floor is being used at the moment to store shop fittings from a closed Chinese medicine shop that has closed in the Frenchgate Shopping Centre.

The seats in the circle renewed shortly before the theatre closed its doors to Bingo, whilst dust gathers on a changing room clothes peg. One of the members of the Friends of Doncaster Grand Theatre remembers using this when she appeared in shows at the Grand. The changing rooms will have to need to have a major refit including toilet facilities something that was noticeably not available. The nearest toilets for the stars were several floors below. The emergency lighting was powered from these batteries and the charger. I doubt if these could be used again although they still were usable on one of our visits in 2004.

(Left) Once the view looking along Station Road Doncaster the main thoroughfare  from the town's railway station. The only building remaining is the Grand Theatre.

For more photographs via the Microsoft Live Album

There are many ways you can support:

• Make a donation large or small (details on their website)
  
• Become a member of The Friends of Doncaster Grand Theatre. 
  
• Book to see a show like the one on the left that the group put on at other venues.
  
• Help to fund raise