Workington's oldest theatre was packed on Saturday for its reopening after a major refurbishment costing over £500,000.
The Theatre Royal, on Washington Street, held the event to show off the refurbished building and announce its future projects.
Peter Inglis, chairman of the Workington Playgoers Club, which owns the theatre, welcomed the guests.
These included local councillors, sponsors, contractors who worked on the refurbishment, supporters and actors.
Dr Inglis talked the audience through the project, which saw the theatre's foyer doubled in size, a new bar area and the refurbishment of the three buildings at the rear of the theatre for community use.
This was possible thanks to a successful bid to the Big Lottery Fund and other funding.
He said: "It was six years ago when we started fundraising for a new heating system and we managed to raise £100,000.
"Then two years ago we started a new fundraising programme for the refurbishment.
"Our Lottery bid was refused at the first and second stage, but we fought hard to understand why and we managed to get it.
"This is not our final project, we want to raise money to improve the stage, the projection facilities and the front of the theatre.
"A huge thank you to our supporters. Now we have a theatre and an organisation we can be proud of."
Mike Smith, vice chairman of the Little Theatre Guild Of Great Britain, praised the efforts of the Playgoers in raising the funds for the work.
He said: "In Workington you have an example of a theatre that's going to provide a venue for culture. What you've done is absolutely phenomenal."
Workington MP Sue Hayman officially opened the theatre.
She said: "Theatre is a really important part of the educational development of people.
"It's not easy to raise money for the arts and I want to compliment everyone involved, you've done a fantastic job. The theatre looks fabulous. I'm incredibly proud to open this theatre."
The guests enjoyed a drumming performance by members of the charity Soundwave, which now occupies one of the buildings at the back of the Theatre Royal.
Rumney Greaves Dance Academy also performed.
Paul Adams, chairman of the theatre's management group, narrated the 81 years of history of the Playgoers club and the 150 years of the building.
Actors played extracts from the club's first production in 1935, Outward Bound, and other plays performed during the history of the club.
The newly formed youth group Second Star performed extracts from its production The Lost Boy.
The next show to be performed by the Playgoers at the Theatre Royal is Entertaining Angels, between May 24 and 28.
Second Star Youth Theatre will stage The Adventures Of Pinocchio on June 11 and 12.
The newly formed Theatre Royal Shakespeare Players will stage Much Ado About Nothing between June 22 and 25.
Proscenium Amateur Dramatics is due to perform Sherlock Holmes on July 16 and 17.
Between October 4 and 7, the Playgoers will perform The Perfect Murder and between December 6 and 10 they are due to stage Dad's Army.
It’s A Wonderful Life is due to be performed by the Theatre Royal Second Star Youth Theatre on December 17 and 18.
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