A CHESTER theatre is aiming to provide a more welcoming experience to visitors with an upgrade to the building.

Chester Little Theatre has been putting on productions for several decades at the former Victorian school building in Gloucester Street, which has undergone several upgrades over the years.

But now plans are afoot to install a new entrance door, new cladding and new paving to overcome what planners say is currently an "underwhelming" entrance which "presents little sense of occasion upon arrival at the theatre."

In addition, the current individual entrance doors are not of sufficient width for wheelchair access, and are managed by staff to facilitate access for those require assistance.

It is proposed that, as part of the upgrade package, a new automatic entrance door would be installed.

In a design and access statement, planners say: "The proposed development of the entrance area to the theatre is intended to create a more coherent and tidy appearance, not dissimilar to the existing, but more in keeping with the building's purpose and use."

The theatre's new 2023/24 season of plays begins with Dirty Dusting from Saturday, September 16 to Saturday, September 23.

The venue will also play host to Chester-based theatre company Against The Grain as they present psychological murder mystery Agnes of God by John Pielmeier in the Salisbury Studio from Thursday, October 19 to Saturday, October 21.

Other season highlights include an adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol in November whilst visiting company White Cobra make a welcome return with Lilies on the Land, an extraordinary story of the Women's Land Army during World War II.

The new season also includes Road by Jim Cartwright, Birthday Club by Phil Olson, a production of Samuel Beckett's classic play Waiting For Godot and a rip-roaring adaptation of The Hound of The Baskervilles.

The theatre will host the Cheshire One Act Drama Festival in March 2024.

Fore more information on the season of plays, visit www.chesterlittletheatre.co.uk. To book, contact TicketSource on 0333 663366.