Retirement village gives stage curtains a new lease of life

A community arts theatre in West Sussex has a new set of stage curtains, thanks to a new retirement village.

Staff from Charters Village donated the burgundy drapes to Chequer Mead Theatre in East Grinstead.

They originally adorned the stage of the Adeline Genee Theatre at the Bush Davies School, which closed in 1989. Retirement Villages Group Ltd bought the site and invited former pupils back for a reunion in October 2010 before work began on transforming the 16 acre site into a retirement village.

As part of the reunion, the school’s alumni performed the Grand Defile before the curtain fell for the final time.

The drapes will now be given a new lease of life at Chequer Mead Theatre, which is used by dozens of local groups, musicians, artists and actors.

Will Perkins, technical manager at the theatre, is “delighted” with the donation. He said: “We are delighted to accept the curtain from Retirement Villages. Many local people have been involved with both theatres over the years so it is a fitting tribute to the school that the curtain continues its life here.”

Sarah Burgess, sales and marketing director at Retirement Villages, said: “We are delighted to have found such a fitting home for the theatre curtains. The Bush Davies School played a large part in the local community and remains part of the heritage of what is now Charters Village, so retaining these links is really important to us.”