BLACKBURN'S newest arts and theatre complex is proving a big hit, even before it has opened.

Over £400,000 has been spent on transforming the Red Brick Theatre and adjoining factory premises at Ewood into a state-of-the-art venue.

It is hoped that a grand gala opening will be held soon with either April or May the likely month.

But already theatre groups and community organisations are giving it their support.

Pendle Productions, a professional touring company, has already made the Ewood centre their base, Blackburn Drama Club is on the verge of making the theatre its permanent home and a number of dance groups have signed up. In addition, 90-day's worth of bookings have already been taken for the various rehearsal and meeting rooms which are housed in the former Reed's factory building on the site.

The 195-seat theatre is to be known as the Thwaites Theatre after the Blackburn brewery pledged a substantial sum -- believed to be around £70,000 -- to sponsor it.

Now fund-raisers are looking for a local company to get behind the attached arts and community centre. Michael Berry, the project director, said: "This is literally a chance for people to make a name for themselves. It is a fabulous facility and will become a very important centre for the whole community."

A large dance studio, rehearsal rooms, cafe area and dressing rooms have all been created in the former shoe factory premises.

It is also hoped that local businesses will use the centre for meetings and conferences, with the theatre itself making an ideal venue for presentations.

A full-time manager is also to be appointed to run the centre. In the theatre, brand new seating will soon be installed and once that is complete safety certificates can be applied for.

A grand gala opening is planned, with a host of star names expected to attend.

"The main guests on the evening will be those people who believed in us at the beginning of our campaign to bring a theatre to Blackburn," said Mr Berry.

"Three years ago over 300 people paid £25 for a ticket for the opening night at a theatre which didn't exist and on a date which couldn't be given. There was no guarantee that we would succeed but we have and we will be honouring our pledge to everyone who backed us by becoming 'Theatre Bums' as we called them.

"It means we will have to do two shows on the opening night to fit them all in, but they deserve that."

The theatre project received a £100,000 urban regeneration grant but the bulk of the money has been raised by a team of fund-raisers.

"When we first started, people said we were mad, but we knew that we could achieve our aim. Now we are so close. Sponsorship for the arts and community centre would just be the final piece of the jigsaw," said Mr Berry.

Any firms interested in sponsorship can contact Michael Berry on 01254 57663.