A STAGE school could be on the cards for Morecambe as a fresh vision to breathe life into a local theatre is unveiled as a tribute to Dame Thora Hird.

The Friends of the Victoria Pavilion (Winter Gardens) are exploring ways to restore and transform the ageing theatre into a living memorial' to the late actress who trod the theatre's boards with the Warblers Amateurs in the early days of her career.

Members hope to see the building become home to an all-year, 1,300-seater multi-purpose entertainment venue with a large performance arena.

A new-look auditorium would be named after Morecambe's most famous daughter, and it is hoped local amateur dramatic societies would make the building their base.

Plans to create dance studios could also spell the creation of a stage and theatre school for local youngsters at the site.

The Friends hope to gage support for their ideas before bidding for funds - and a meeting is now being planned so people can voice their views.

Dame Thora was the Friends' patron and retained a strong affection for the Winter Gardens, having first met her husband Scottie there. Years later she asked for her South Bank Show interview with Melvyn Bragg to be filmed there.

The Friends - formed in 1985 and now a registered charity - feels their plan would safe-guard the theatre's future while providing a fitting tribute.

Chair Evelyn Archer says: "We believe our ideas offer a way to the complete restoration of this wonderful building.

"The true essence of Dame Thora's career was performance. Whether on screen, stage or radio she had a unique rapport with her audience. The Friends feel that restoration of the building would be a fitting tribute to a remarkable lady and her career by providing her much-loved home town and the district with a venue where young talent can be nurtured."

Friends' vice-chairman David Algar says the venture would also give Morecambe a building to be proud of.

"If we had the Winter Gardens as a community facility it would be a huge shot in the arm for the area. Various schemes have been suggested in the past but none have had our support.

"It has to be an all-purpose facility rather than just for one use, and by levelling the ground floor we would create a fabulous arena space.

"We have had overwhelming support so far," he adds.

A website has been set up at http://www.thewintergardensmorecambe.co.uk

to showcase the building and its future.

"We think it would attract a lot of national attention as a memorial to Thora Hird," says David, who joined the Friends in 1986. "The website is still in the early stages, but it shows the building, warts and all."

David adds that efforts are being made to open up the building's foyer on Sundays in summer to offer an insight into what it has to offer.

April 17, 2003 09:30