 In March 1979, the dilapidated theatre was purchased by a trust headed by Jeremy Fry for £155,000.The following year, an appeal was launched to raise money for renovations, including the complete rebuilding of the stage, installation of a steel grid to hold stage lighting and scenery and a higher fly system, to allow major touring companies, including the Royal National Theatre under Peter Hall, to be booked to perform.The total projected cost was £3.5 million, of which £1.8 million was seen as being essential to reopening the theatre.