Halstead Theatre Chairwoman Expresses Gratitude for Community Support Following Burglary

The chairwoman of a theatre has expressed feeling “humbled” by the significant public support received after the establishment was burglarized. The Empire Theatre in Halstead experienced a break-in shortly after 05:00 BST on Saturday, an incident currently under investigation by Essex Police. Extensive damage to the theatre’s doors necessitated its closure for the weekend, leading to the cancellation and refunding of tickets for a scheduled children’s cinema screening. Chairwoman Jo Collis remarked, “The outpouring of disgust and disappointment from the community is overwhelming.” She added, “Myself and all my volunteers are truly humbled by the fact that everybody loves the place so very much.” Collis also noted, “We had a really big comedy night the previous evening and someone just saw it as a quick win.” An online fundraising campaign, initiated by a local resident, successfully surpassed its £2,000 goal within a single day. Ms. Collis, who assumed the role of chairwoman for the charity-run theatre in January, indicated her belief that the venue was targeted by “opportunists.” Both the glass front doors and various internal doors at the Butler Road location were found to be shattered. Repairs for this damage are anticipated to take approximately one month. While the exact cost of replacements remains undetermined, Ms. Collis estimates that the repair work and ticket refunds will amount to thousands of pounds. Despite the damage, Ms. Collis confirmed that the theatre, which she characterized as a “community hub,” would resume operations in the interim by utilizing its side entrances.