AN appeal has been made for volunteers to help keep open a community hall and theatre which has recently undergone a £280,000 refurbishment.

Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall hosted the town panto before Christmas, playing to packed houses.

But the group that runs the venue, which was gifted to the town in 1895, says it is “facing a crisis” and is “struggling to keep going” owing to a lack of volunteers, made harder by the continuing pandemic.

The town cinema is also based at the Hall, but hasn’t reopened since refurbishment work, despite hopes last summer of screening recently released hit film Dream Horse, which was largely filmed in the town.

And the Hall company posted the night after a Theatre Ad Hoc performance of Jack and The Beanstalk: “We had a hall full of people enjoying the entertainment last night, and we were happy to see you - and the performers - having so much fun.

“However, the Hall is facing a crisis. It needs people who are willing to put a lot of time into helping to organise and run events.

“At the moment, we are struggling to keep going, with a small number of volunteers, many of whom have jobs or other commitments.

“Several were forced to drop out yesterday, leaving us with a shortage and frantic last-minute rearranging.

“If we don’t have more people coming forward to help out, we will have to close down next year, unfortunately.

“Over the past couple of months, although the cinema hasn’t yet reopened, we’ve hosted two Christmas wreath-making workshops, a dance show, a very big Christmas market and last night – and tonight and tomorrow - a brilliant pantomime.

“If you love our wonderful Hall as much as we do… if you want to keep enjoying local cinema and fantastic local shows and other events, PLEASE help us save it!”

The initial appeal saw more than 20 people come forward to offer their help.

A follow-up post last week said: “Your support is massively appreciated and we’ll get back to all of you early in the New Year to arrange a meeting to let you know how you can help.

“It’s so uplifting to know you care about our Hall.”

The Hall has been refurbished thanks to a joint project between Torfaen Council, the Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall Company, Blaenavon Heritage Museum, the town council, and the Welsh Government.

Reopening last year (2021), the work included repairs to the roof, the replacement of theatre sound and lighting equipment, acoustic improvements, new cinema seating and room partitioning.

The building’s energy efficiency has also been improved, with double glazing, thermal-efficient front doors, lighting sensors and LED lighting.

The Welsh Government’s Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 supplied £194,000 of the funding, partly via the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Another £34,000 came from Torfaen Council’s Regeneration Funds.

The Hall was built for the town more than 125 years ago thanks to a benefactor who provided an interest-free loan.

Last summer, Charles Jordan’s great-great-grandson Chris Jones presented the town council with the ‘thank you’ artwork presented to his forefather in 1904 by the Workmen’s Hall Committee in recognition of his generosity.

Chris said: “During the late 1800s, money had run out for either building refurbishment or general building work. Had the loan not be forthcoming, the Hall would not have opened.’’

“They were boot sellers/agents… it’s said that Charles Jordan’s business was re-mortgaged to raise the necessary monies, believed to be around £19,000 - which was an incredible sum for the 1890-1900s.”

Opened in January 1895, Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall on the town’s High Street is a fine example of a Valleys Miners’ Institute, and forms part of the World Heritage Centre.

It was founded by Blaenavon Workmen’s Institute, who collected a weekly deduction of a halfpenny from its members’ wages to pay Charles Jordan back.

For decades, it was the focal point of the community, providing a library, games, entertainment and recreational activities.

If you would like to volunteer to help run the Hall, direct message the team at www.facebook.com/BWMHDC/