Work begins to bring Dudley Hippodrome to life

A 15-strong team donned face masks, disposable paper suits, double gloves and hard hats to enter the building which carries a low risk of asbestos and has stood empty since 2009.

There is no power, so they brought their own generator and high powered lights which illuminated a tangle mass of cables, ceiling tiles, air conditioning filters, tables, chairs and other debris.

The Black Country Hippodrome group is spending around five hours every Saturday on a massive clean-up operation after the keys to the theatre were passed over to members by Dudley Council days before Christmas.They have already cleared the lobby and are now moving into the auditorium.

Their chairman, Dr Paul Collins, said while donning his safety gear: "It is important to stress that it is not open to the public. Access has to be very carefully controlled. People cannot walk around unaided and unsupervised. The building is not dangerous but it is not safe either.

"It is a marvellous construction and wonderful resource for the town but has been going to complete waste. It seats 1752 people and would be the eighth largest theatre in the West End of London."

The 62-year-old continued: "We are determined to bring it back into use. This is not pie in the sky. Other theatres in the country have been saved and there is no reason why this one cannot be as well.

"There is a tremendous groundswell of public interest and we will really capture their imagination when the building is safe enough for them to take a look. First we are making it secure and water tight, then we want to sort out permanent lighting."

The group has a five-year lease and is currently trying to raise money for a feasibility study to establish how good the structure of the theatre is. It opened in 1938.

Paul Winchurch, a 65-year-old retired lorry driver and member of the Friends of the Hippodrome for four years was among those on the working party. He said: "I'm Dudley born and bred and still live in the town. I saw Roy Orbison perform here. The number of people who sound their horn or put their thumb up as they drive past while we are here shows the level of support there is for what we are doing."

Colin Middleton, 74, a retired careers advisor from Kingswinford, recently joined the clean up group. He explained: "They have battled so long and hard that I could not sit back any longer and wanted to do as much as I could to help. I got Laurel and Hardy's autograph here as a youngster. It was heartbreaking when I first saw the state it was in and would do anything to get it back to its former glory."

Gordon Downing, chairman of the Friends group, is 80 years old but still determined to do his bit. "I feel it is my duty," he declared. "I remember what it was like and know what it can be like in the future."

Gwen Timmins MBE, aged 73, from Kingswinford, provided hot cups of tea for the men with Black Country comic Marlene Watson, 70, who lives in Wall Heath. The pair also spearhead the fundraising and said: "We are delighted to see something happening to the Hippodrome. It is wonderful for Dudley."

Campaigners are working with architects on finalising exciting proposals for the building which include a three-storey extension. They must raise around £5 million to ensure all the plans can go ahead and work can begin to re-open the building.