CONCERTS during the day are part of the plans to grow The Regal in Tenbury.

A new theatre manager and artistic director has been appointed with a remit to expand the number and variety of shows at the town centre venue.

Adey Ramsel, aged 44, says that he believes that the Regal has huge potential to become an even bigger attraction with the support of the local community.

“In my first few weeks I have been meeting people in the town and talking to the businesses,” said Adey.

“The great thing is that people really seem to value the Regal. So many of these kinds of venues fail because they do not have the backing of the local community but that does not appear to be the case in Tenbury.”

He says that the Regal has grown and been a success since it reopened after a £700,000 refurbishment four years ago but that now is the time to try to take it to the next level.

“The Regal has done well and my predecessor Ian Little did a good job but now I see my role as taking it to the next stage,” said Adey.

His hopes for the future include getting greater utilisation of the building including the introduction of concerts during the day that might appeal to more elderly people.

At the other end of the age scale he plans to have more children’s theatre and a special programme is being worked out for the February half-term next year.

But while the plan is for more live theatre, the Regal will continue to show a wide variety of films to meet all tastes.

There are also ideas for theatre-based workshops and using the facilities for parties and other more community based events.

“I want people to come and see me and tell me what they want because this is a community asset,” Adey Ramsel said.

The immediate priority is producing the Christmas pantomime Dick Whittington which will be on at the venue in December.

“I have done a lot of pantomime but this will be the first time that I will have worked on Dick Whittington,” added Adey.

“It was the first pantomime that I ever saw and I think it was in London. What I do remember is Norman Wisdom in the main role.”

Originally from Tamworth, Adey has worked in theatre all his life including performing as a stand-up comedian and ventriloquist. He also has worked as an MC at major events.

Adey lived and worked for 18 years in New Zealand near Auckland where he was involved in setting up and running a theatre.

He returned to the UK two years ago when his wife got a job with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon.

After working in various freelance roles he was appointed to the new job at The Regal.

The venue was built in the 1930s and is one of the few remaining cinemas from that era.

It is owned by Tenbury Town Council but the operation of the venue has been passed to an independent trust on a long lease.