An arts festival and a play that was delayed for 18 months by lockdown is to be held next month in Coalville.

It will mark the refurbishment of the Adult School Hall in Coalville - and celebrate the 70th anniversary of the town's Drama Group.

Work has been carried out on the hall and theatre, with the added creation of a new bar area which has an alcohol licence in what is the 115th year of the hall serving the local community.

The drama group had planned to perform the 70s classic play Abigail's Party the week the country was plunged into lockdown in March of last year.

It has been postponed ever since.

Now Abigail's Party will return on September 8.

This is also being used as an opportunity for the trustees of the hall to welcome the public in to see the renovations and to also try out the new bar area.

Abigail's Party will be followed the following week by an arts festival where there are plays, cabaret nights, comedy nights and children's performances. Something for everyone.

The Adult school is located on Bridge Road in Coalville and the trustees say it is often mistaken for a church.

The hall is used by various groups including Cheeky Monkeys nursery, Slimming World, Ju-Jitsu and the Co-op tea dance as well as Coalville Drama Group.

Originally, the hall was used for adult education in 1906. It was also used in World War One as a central meeting place to raise funds for local Belgian refugees.

Annie Moss was the headmistress. The family was the Moss family, with Walter Moss being quite famous in the area and a local builder.

The hall is currently ran by a group of nine volunteer trustees who are responsible for the general upkeep of the hall.

These are nine passionate volunteers who care about the hall and the local community it serves.

The trustees used the Covid-19 lockdown and the closure as an opportunity to completely renovate and refurbish the hall.

The foyer has had its original ceiling uncovered, new lighting, been painted and is a welcoming and bright space complete with chandelier.

The main hall has had its original floor completely restored and varnished.

The whole hall has been painted and freshened up and the old chairs have been removed to make it feel like a bigger and more usable space.

The so-called 'middle room' is currently undergoing a transformation.

It has been stripped out and a brand new floor has been laid.

The trustees have secured an alcohol licence so, at events, this room will be used as a bar/cafe area. The toilets and back room are next to be renovated.

The Adult School hall also houses a theatre which is used by Coalville Drama Group.

It is the longest running group at the hall and is very much responsible for it still being there today.

The group normally performs four plays annually.

One of the trustees, Jake Pervin, said: "We are really hoping that the play and the festival will be a great celebration of the Drama Group's 70th birthday and the Hall's 115th birthday - and be an opportunity to promote the arts as they have had such a tough time over the past 18months.

"The trustees aim to continue their renovations to the back of the building and hope to offer craft fairs and seasonal fetes with the upgraded facilities so that there is plenty for the local community to get involved with."