THEATREGOERS, thespians and the township alike were celebrating this week as the curtain came down on the Gazette's theatre campaign – more than £300,000 richer!

Brentwood Theatre was in dire straits last year when the National Lottery snubbed its bid for a £49,000 grant and as theatre figurehead Mark Reed has confessed, it faced almost certain closure without help.

So when the Gazette learned exactly how important the theatre was – not only to its devoted spectators, the variety of am-dram organisations that call it home, and the town's emerging talent – we stepped in with a £10,000 donation and our campaign was born.

And after a year of fervent campaigning, scrimping and saving, we've reached the landmark figure needed to secure the theatre – dubbed the town's crown jewel – for generations to come.

And the party really starts at the grand reopening on Tuesday when Brentwood Operatic Society's Youth Theatre Group (BOSSY) performs the sell-out rave show, Fame.

Lord Petre, president of the Brentwood Theatre Trust, said: "It is self evident that Brentwood Theatre is an enormous asset to the town and absolutely a community theatre in every sense.

"It has been a marvellous achievement for what has sometimes been a long, drawn out and difficult struggle. I am lost in admiration for what has been achieved."

Brentwood-born Hollywood actor Stephen Moyer, who will be joined on the opening night by Oscar-winning star Anna Paquin, who played Rogue in X-Men, said: "It has been brilliant just to be able to see it change. It's when you go upstairs and you see that rehearsal space – it's really fantastic."

Brentwood MP Eric Pickles said: "Brentwood Theatre has never been content to rest on its laurels, presenting the challenging alongside the familiar, and it remains an important part of the art culture in Brentwood."

Eric Smart, chairman of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) said: "The big credit for Brentwood Theatre is the people of Brentwood supported it so much.

"All credit to the fundraisers. They have done a fantastic job to ensure that community theatre remains alive and kicking in the Brentwood area."