The latest celebrity supporter of Bolton Octagon’s fund-raising survival fight is the borough’s mayor, Councillor Linda Thomas.
Councillor Thomas said, “I am proud to say I have chosen the Octagon as one of my mayoral charities. The Octagon has stood for over 50 years, inspiring and enthusing audiences from Bolton and the surrounding region.
“It stands in the heart of the civic centre and it is a very important part of our regeneration of Bolton town centre.”
The Octagon was due to reopen last month after two years of closure for major redevelopment. The coronavirus outbreak delayed completion and left the charity with a £500,000 income shortfall for the year. The Octagon has gone from what was to have been one of its best years to one of its worst.
In response the theatre launched the Octagon Future Fund in late May, which has raised over £48,000 from 490 donors, an amount that will be doubled by a corporate gift.
Octagon chief executive Roddy Gauld said, “Thank you to the Mayor and Bolton Council for their steadfast support of the Octagon. With thanks to Bolton Council and Arts Council England among other funders, our world class theatre will soon be completed.”
To donate to the Octagon Future Fund go here.
See the Mayor's video message of support here