CARMARTHEN’S Lyric Theatre and Cinema has won a £300,000 Arts Council of Wales Lottery Grant.

The news has delighted fans and patrons of the much loved facility which has to change its role in a developing Carmarthen town centre that will have its own six-screen multiplex cinema next year.

The Lyric will now have a more specialist theatre use.

Without the Lottery windfall the future of the fading and worn out Lyric was threatened.

County executive board member for regeneration and leisure services Cllr Clive Scourfield said: " ‘Developing and improving the Lyric is important to it’s continued success in providing a focus for both local and visiting companies to perform in the region.

"We are delighted the Arts Council felt able to back our proposals and ensure we can make a start on this work."

The Lyric’s £1.5million redevelopment scheme will focus on bringing the backstage facilities in line with the auditorium. It will be of particular importance for the hundreds of performers of all ages in local companies who will have a professional rehearsal space and vastly improved dressing rooms. It will also make the venue more attractive to visiting acts and performers.

The auditorium will also be enhanced with improved heating and ventilation which was the greatest wish of those taking part in customer surveys.

There will be disability access to all the new areas, stage and bar.

The work is also preparing the way for future improvements for when more financial aid becomes available.

The theatre is planned to re-open in late September (2009) this year and will continue to show mainstream films until the Apollo Cinema opens in Carmarthen in 2010. The Lyric will keep showing special films thereafter along with an enlarged and more varied live performance programme.