“After a really busy season with hundreds of thousands of people coming into our venues we are refreshing our iconic building over the summer,” said Lighthouse chief executive Elspeth McBain.

The monumental task of removing all the signs on the outside of the building in preparation for a new coat of paint began in July. Inside, with no performances in August, the public areas will be repainted, with new signs and messaging prepared for the start of the autumn season in September.

“Coming out of the pandemic has been a transformative experience for Lighthouse,” explains Elspeth McBain. “The response of our audiences who have returned in such numbers has been both wonderful and incredibly humbling, highlighting the important part Lighthouse plays in their lives and our community.

“It’s a responsibility we take very seriously but being unable to welcome the public to performances for such a long time in lockdown also gave us an opportunity to strengthen our relationships with artists and makers, from producing our own Christmas shows and online content to launching the Sanctuary artists’ residency programme and Lighthouse Playwriting Prize. Most recently, we hosted the first ever Dorset Artists Festival.

“After a really busy season with hundreds of thousands of people coming into our venues we are refreshing our iconic building over the summer. The building will be closed to the public in August while we undertake the maintenance work required.  No two days are ever the same at Lighthouse and we are looking forward to welcoming audiences back with a typically entertaining and diverse programme this autumn.”