Restoration Update – 17.07.11

Over a year has passed since the Plaza reopened in her former art deco glory as the finest example of a restored Super Cinema and Variety Theatre in the country but of course the hard work and commitment to our ongoing restoration and maintence of this magnificent venue has far from stopped and as works begin on our next stages of the project, its time to reopen our restoration update file and bring you the details as they happen.

Since 2009 we have been hard at work behind the scenes refurbishing corridors and staff areas along with creating a new home for our ice cream freezers, food stock stores and paint stores.

One of our most striking features in the auditorium is our stunning orchestra rail created and installed by our master carpenter Roy Aspinal but funds only enabled us to restore part of the light fixtures that create part of the wow factor as you take your seat ready for one of our Stage or Big Screen presentations to begin, so as part of our current fundraising initiative entitled ‘Light Up The Plaza’ (full details in our news section) we have been able to fund the installation of the lighting within the orchestra rail as per the original design of up lighting that could glow ambient colours to complete this master piece in the heart of our stalls seating area.

Roy Aspinal was joined by Brian Chantry to install the new lighting whilst fellow volunteer David Poole worked alongside the lighting suppliers to obtain the correct LED fittings all of which under the expert eye of Vice Chairman and Technical Director of the Stockport Plaza Trust Gary Trinder without whom our focus on ensuring the heritage detail of the Plaza is restored to the exacting guidelines of the original plans.

With the installation of our new lighting the orchestra pit rail complements the sumptous lighting features that welcome you into the Plaza now and for many more years to come.