A 20-YEAR dream became a reality on Saturday night as Blackburn celebrated the opening of the Thwaites Theatre in style.

A star-studded gala marked the arrival of the town's newest venue, which was so good they opened it twice!

To keep a promise made to all the "theatre bums" who paid £25 for a ticket for the opening night when the theatre was still wishful thinking, two performances were staged to accommodate everyone. The official opening was carried out by one of those theatre bums, Colin Sames, of Mellor, who won a draw for the right to perform the honour.

The former Empire Cinema, on Bolton Road, Ewood, has been transformed into a 200-seater theatre which will play host to clubs and societies throughout Blackburn and Darwen.

Over £450,000 has been raised to transform the semi-derelict premises which were bought for £12,500 in 1979 by Blackburn Theatre Trust.

Major sponsors such as brewers Thwaites, who have given their name to the theatre, plus an urban regeneration grant have helped but the bulk of the money has been raised by volunteers. A host of special guests were introduced during the evening, including the Mayor of Blackburn Coun Tony Humphrys and his wife Jackie, the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Alan Chesters, former world snooker champion Denis Taylor, ex-world superbike champion Carl Fogarty and Blackburn Rovers legends Bryan Douglas and Ronnie Clayton.

Good luck messages were also received from Lord Taylor of Blackburn, best-selling author Josephine Cox, Blackburn Rovers' manager Graeme Souness, actress Polly James, comedian Ken Dodd and from William Roache, Ken Barlow in Coronation Street, who said it was "wonderful to see the endangered species of live theatre being brought back to life".

A special surprise for the audience was the appearance of West End star Gemma Craven who attended with her partner, Blackburn jeweller Lord Odin.

During the evening, there was a good old-fashioned variety show with appearances by the Tiller Girls, former singer with the Ted Heath Band Denis Lotis, vocal group Classique, poet Dorothy Jones, violinist Victoria Yellop and tenor Jim Fitzgerald.

Michael Berry, the project director, said: "To be up on that stage and to see the theatre being opened after all this time was a never-to-be-forgotten feeling. So many people have worked so hard to make this happen and it a tribute to every single one of them that we now have this excellent facility."

He added that now the theatre was open, the people of Blackburn needed to come along and support the shows being held there.

"We have got the car on the road, now we have got to maintain it," he said.

During the evening a further £4,000 was raised by a raffle and an original painting of the theatre by Blackburn artist Mark Best made £550 at an auction.

Limited edition prints of that painting are being sold at the theatre.