The first steps have been taken in a major project to raise the curtain again at one of the country’s oldest theatres.

Plans were unveiled last year to transform the Theatre Royal in Margate into a “nationally significant performing arts hub”, with a bar, cafe, studios and offices.

The Grade II-listed venue shut in April 2022 after falling into decline, but Thanet District Council (TDC) wants to welcome audiences once more and is spearheading major renovations.

Now minor repairs to inside the theatre and its roof have been approved, which are needed before the development project gets underway.

Several of the flashings will be replaced and a roof hatch will be installed, to allow access for maintenance to the theatre’s void space. This will keep the venue watertight, while additional funds are raised for the ambitious scheme. The plans were given the green light at a TDC planning meeting on February 14.

Public funds have already been made available from the Margate Town deal with £2.2 million allocated to the project, estimated to cost more than £6.7 million.

TDC has applied for further funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This began with the submission of an initial expression of interest last year for £3.2 million, which was approved.

However, since then the requirements for lottery funding have changed meaning the budget of the project had to increase. The new grant application will see TDC applying for £4.5 million.

A spokesperson for TDC added: “Following the approval of the expression of interest, the NLHF changed its 10-year strategy. To meet the new criteria, the project scope and budget needed to increase.

“A grant application for £4.5 million was submitted on February 28. The application allows for additional environmental sustainability measures, inflation and a larger contingency.”

When the renovation plans were unveiled in November last year, the council said they were “designed to increase the artistic and financial opportunities to support the historic theatre and to raise the profile of performing arts in the district”.

The vision includes a bar, cafe, 50-seat studio theatre, sound recording studio, rehearsal rooms/dance studio, offices and accommodation for touring theatre companies.

Cllr Ruth Duckworth, cabinet member for regeneration and property, said at the time: “The Theatre Royal is an important historic performance asset, and plays a key role in Margate’s leisure offering.

“The project to restore and relaunch it is highly ambitious, and it will not be possible without the support of other major funders, an operator with vision and resources, and the support of the community. The Theatre Royal has the potential to provide employment and training opportunities. It is a truly unique heritage stage and I would love to see homegrown talent performing in high-quality, locally made productions, as well as visiting national and international theatre productions.”

The venue opened in 1787 and is the fourth oldest theatre in the country.