The Blackburn Empire Theatre is celebrating after receiving a £10,000 combined grant, with £5,000 from Masonic Charitable Foundation and £5,000 from The East Lancashire Masonic Charity . These generous donations will allow the theatre to upgrade its sound equipment, including a brand-new digital mixing console and a powerful PA system, ensuring top-quality audio for every performance.

The improved sound system is set to make a real difference for both audiences and performers, offering clearer, more dynamic audio for everything from plays to concerts. The theatre continues to be a go-to venue for local entertainment, and this latest upgrade will help take the experience to the next level.

A spokesperson for the theatre said, “We’re extremely grateful to the East Lancashire Freemasons and the East Lancashire Masonic Charity for their continued support. This upgrade is a game-changer for us, and we can’t wait for our audiences to hear the difference. They have been such a strong supporter of the theatre over the years, and their contributions make a huge impact.”

Simon Gilrane of East Lancashire Freemasons also commented: “We’re proud to support Blackburn Empire Theatre with these grants. It’s a great community space, and we’re excited to see the improvements this investment will bring to future performances.”

Pictured from left to right: Ryan Clegg (Blackburn Empire), Alex Pickup (Blackburn Empire), David Lightbrown, Simon Gilrane, Dawn Gilrane (East Lancashire Freemasons), and Kris Connell (Blackburn Empire), marking this important milestone for the theatre.