Potential refurbishment for Horsham's theatre

A local council are considering plans to significantly refurbish a West Sussex theatre

Author: Grace O'HarePublished 18th Jan 2024

New plans to significantly refurbish Horsham's The Capitol theatre have been put forward.

The district council says they are considering the plans as the theatre was last refurbished in 2003.

A spokesperson for Horsham District Council said that consequently, many aspects of its infrastructure, design and layout need to be updated to align with current day audience and environmental needs.

They added this will help ensure that a thriving, affordable cultural offer remains at the heart of the services the council provides.

What are the proposed refurbishments?

  • Increased seating capacity to attract different performances and shows
  • Substantial improvements to the building’s infrastructure to help achieve the Council’s net zero targets
  • Improvements to the overall internal layout of the building to improve customer experience.

If approved, the refurbishment would start in April 2025 and finish in November 2026.

Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Green Spaces Cllr Jon Olson said:

“I am very excited by the proposals to improve the customer experience and environmental impacts at this much-loved venue.

"These proposals will not only see The Capitol continue to be a thriving community hub for arts and culture, but will also deliver significant improvements for audiences, artists and staff, and will create a more climate-friendly facility for future generations".

Horsham District Council will consider the plans on 25 January.

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