THE CURTAIN has gone up on a major fundraising appeal to raise £1 million for Wilmslow's Evans Theatre.

The Come Fly with Us appeal launched by theatre groups has set the stage for a major revival of the arts and will put the town back in the lime light as a premier cultural centre.

It follows huge investment by the borough leisure services department which unveiled a new Green Room at the theatre just last week.

Spokesman Sue Peak said enhancements would take performing arts facilities into the 21st century and finally fulfil the dream of benefactor, Mabel Evans, whose legacy led to the foundation of the Evans Theatre 20 years ago.

A lifelong supporter of the arts, Mrs Evans left £125,000 in her will to the borough council to establish The Evans Theatre in her memory.

Sue said the recent opening of the new rehearsal room along with £1 million investment in a fly tower would make the dream of Wilmslow's best known patron of the arts become a reality.

The £1million kitty is specifically for a fly tower to be built into the Leisure Centre building to allow seamless manoeuvre of equipment and scenery high above the stage.

"It is the largest piece of structural equipment to improve back stage facilities and will make life so much easier for all the user groups and will help attract national productions to our town." she said.

The fly tower is the area used to suspend painted backdrops and scenic drapes which can be whisked off stage.

First to support the appeal at the launch was Scamps stalwart, Barbara Herd, who set it off to a flying start by donating £1000 from Peter Herd's Paddock Bakeries.

And Deputy Mayor Councillor Paul Whiteley, who takes over the chain of office as the borough's first citizen in June rolled out the challenge to the community. He said the whole community would benefit from the enhancements.