Sneak peek around transformed Garrison Theatre (From Essex County Standard)

Sneak peek around transformed Garrison Theatre

6:12pm Saturday 5th January 2013 in News By Helen Barnett

PARENTS caught a first glimpse of a renovated Victorian army theatre at its grand opening as a nursery.

Colchester’s former Garrison Theatre in Circular Road South has been transformed into Butterfly Blue Nursery after hundreds of thousands of pounds of refurbishment.

The large playhouse, built in 1898, now has four classrooms and a second floor has been added to host after school clubs and summer holiday camps in the future.

The first group of children start at the centre on Monday, January 7 and visitors took a look around on Saturday, January 5.

Prior to the renovation the building near Abbey Fields still had its original stage, dressing rooms, stalls and balcony.

The stage has been sectioned off but a balcony has been added to look over to the stairs and there are flashing lights in the hallway to maintain a theatrical theme.

The rooms have been designed specifically for the children with separate rooms for babies, one-year-olds, two-year-olds and aged three to five.