The restoration of the Gaiety was launched on the 16th of July 1990 with a Service of Thanksgiving in St. Thomas's church led by Reverend Alec Smith the theatre chaplain. The aim of the project was to raise money to restore the theatre faithfully and correctly to its original splendour of 1900 and to be completed for its centenary celebrations, ten years later, in July 2000.

The Gaiety has been very fortunate to be so well supported by our department and local, national and international businesses who sponsor us by way of donation or single projects. Each year, since 1990, several projects were decided upon and planned (depending on funds). The theatre would go dark every January to February for the planned restoration works to be carried out. Sometimes if the projects did not effect the running of the shows the works could commence at alternative times of the year.

Now that almost all the projects have been completed it only remains for us to maintain the splendour that is the Gaiety Theatre. Some minor projects remain but I am sure if you have visited the theatre you could forgive us! We are very much a live and active theatre with highly modernised technical equipment complementing the old with the new.

1990
Helmsley Act Drop restored.
Investigation of Ceiling lay light and reconstruction from fragments of a single glazed panel.

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1991
Stained glass in Rose light restored to original design.
Sun Burner restored to original appearance.
Stalls re-seated and wheelchair positions provided.
Lighting box removed from rear of dress circle and ceiling above restored.
Proscenium paintings restored.

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1992
Ceiling panels and six other frescos restored.
Original art work of Frank Matcham cartoon for 'Spy' magazine purchased and conserved.

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1993
Facade restoration completed.
Iron entrance canopy fully restored together with stained glass panels over entrance doors.
Central heating renewed.
Matcham suite decorated and furnished.
Entrance foyer and Grand Staircase re-decorated with wallpaper reproduced from original samples.
Double purchase counterweight system installed.

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1994
Lanterns reinstated to entrance canopy.
Carpet reinstated to original design in foyer.
Wallpaper reinstated to original design in dress circle.
Original stage machinery acquired and installed.

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1995
Grand staircase frescos reinstated.
New lighting system installed.

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1996
Wallpaper reinstated to original design in stalls and upper circle.
All exit corridors stripped and redecorated.

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1997
New sound system installed.
Stage re-boarded.
Auditorium barrier reinstated.
Victorian Coffee Promenade reinstated.

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1998
Entrance corridors redecorated. More ceiling frescos discovered.
Corsican trap re-constructed and installed.

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1999
Replacement of Gallery ceiling with fibrous plaster work
Box corridors ceiling design repainted

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2000
Final installation and commissioning of all stage traps, including the CORSICAN TRAP.
Replacement of house curtains with original swag flying green mohair tabs, also replacement of all box and entrance curtains.
Re seating of Gallery area.
Removal of dress circle lighting bar and subsequent replacement of new lighting system.
Flambeau or gas torch on roof reinstated