In preparation for a very busy autumn season, Lighthouse Poole has closed its doors to the public until the end of the month. 

But behind the scenes, things are as busy as ever. The summer programme of Sanctuary residencies is in full swing with artists using the Sherling Studio and function rooms, for free, to develop new work; while the Main Gallery is being made ready to receive a prestigious new exhibition of artist Quentin Blake’s drawings this autumn. 

There’s also a busy schedule of vital maintenance work to be carried out. 

Scaffolding at the side of the building provides access to the Theatre roof, which has been feeling the effects of 45 years of weather and wear. 

"This is the first phase of a much longer term maintenance plan for our roof," explains Lighthouse General Manager Martyn Balson. 

"After four and a half decades bearing the brunt of all types of weather we want to make sure it is fully secure for the return of our audiences in September." 

Inside, both blocks of ground floor toilets are being refurbished with new flooring, new soft-push flush buttons and new six-litre cisterns. 

"Not only does this improve access for all our building users," adds Martyn, "but the smaller modern cisterns use a third less water and greatly improve the sustainability of this iconic building." 

As well as on-going work such as seat repairs and freshening up the interior paintwork, further improvements backstage will see two doors fully automated to enable wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility to access the stage and orchestra pit from their dressing rooms without assistance. 

This work has been made possible by a grant of £5000 from the Theatres Trust. 

As part of the continuing effort to save power, work has also started experimenting with motion sensor technology in backstage areas to turn off lighting in corridors and other spaces when not in use. 

"Lighthouse welcomes many thousands of visitors every year and keeping a building as large as this is in good shape is obviously a major undertaking," says Martyn. 

"Although we're closed to the public in August, it is actually one of our busiest times of the year behind the scenes, but with staff training beginning again in a couple of weeks we'll be ready to reopen in time for a bumper autumn season in the run up to this year's family pantomime, Aladdin. Oh yes, we will!"