Blackfriars Theatre Academy in Boston given green light for new practice studio on Spain Lane

Approval has been granted for a new practice studio and office space inside a Grade II listed building in Boston, which is used by a local theatre academy for young people.

The Blackfriars Theatre Academy will be crafting the new practice studio upstairs in the Blackfriars Art Centre on Spain Lane.

The Grade II listed building is a site the group already uses for classes, workshops and performing arts opportunities for young people in Boston, but it required listed building consent from the council before proceeding with a new studio section.

The top studio space is located on the third floor of terrace houses on Spain Court, rather than the friary itself. Below this will be an office space for the Blackfriars Theatre Academy to call a base of operations.

It will require minor internal structural changes in the form of removing the balustrade overlooking the bottom section that will now be an office, and removing existing cabinets to expand the space for the practice studio.

Approval was granted by Boston Borough Council earlier in June, with the planning officer concluding that any potential impact on the Grade II listed building would be outweighed by the benefits the development will bring.

Council officers felt this would be a good use for the site and enable the theatre academy to thrive and continue its support of young people pursuing performing arts in Boston and surrounding areas.