THE Mowlem Theatre in Swanage is hoping to raise £1,000 by the end of the month after raising more than £4,000 in their winter appeal.

The popular community theatre launched its appeal in mid-December as news of the Omicron Covid variant spread as ticket sales suddenly dropped amid fears of a post-Christmas lockdown.

More than 90 Swanage residents have donated to the appeal so far and the theatre is hopeful it will meet its £5,000 target before the appeal ends on January 27.

Dorset Echo: Mowlem auditorium . Credit: Matthew Haysom Mowlem auditorium . Credit: Matthew Haysom

The theatre continues to show a variety of films with full social distancing in place to increase public confidence and safety.

Swanage Drama Company’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is also taking place in January, their first production since January 2020.

Trustee Paul Angel said: “As we watched ticket sales fall we genuinely thought that we’d have to mothball the theatre again and we knew we had to react quickly.

“Now, thanks to our community and with the grants we’ve been promised by central government, we’ll be able to cover the shortfall and keep the show on the road.”

Fighting to keep its doors open after being feeling the impacts of the pandemic for the second Christmas in a row, the theatre has urged the public to donate where they can.

In December The Mowlem saw "audience numbers drop to a point that is simply unsustainable without additional help".

The theatre has been closed numerous times since the coronavirus pandemic began and has since undergone renovation and a number of management changes.

Last year Mowlem asked for the public's help to decide its future, as part of its first public consultation in more than 50 years.

Donations can be made through the Mowlem’s website or through their Crowdfunder appeal.