BETT are teaming up with 'Bands & Venues Burnley & Pendle' to present  'Rockin' the Rooftop @ Mr Greens' on September 3rd from 1pm until 8pm - it's sure to be a fantastic day! Come along and enjoy the some great acts and support the project!
Click here for information and tickets: What's On 

Who We Are

We are a Burnley based group of enthusiasts who want to see the Empire restored to its former glory!
The Burnley Empire Theatre Trust was formed in late 2015 (following a hugely successful campaign by The Friends of Burnley Empire, which garnered almost two thousand signatures in an online petition in a matter of days) to raise public awareness in this historic building and undertake the steps necessary to preserve and renovate it, with the involvement of the local community, higher education institutions and local government bodies high amongst its priorities. BETT is committed to helping secure the building as an opportunity for training and apprenticeships in Lancashire with on-site learning and experience, working with Burnley College and UCLAN throughout the restoration process. Further educational and employment opportunities will be supported when the restoration is complete, to facilitate a fully functioning performance venue for students at the colleges, private /corporate groups and professional and amateur theatre companies, providing them with an historically valuable performance space and adding a beautiful restored historic venue onto the circuit in East Lancashire.
The BETT committee are all passionate volunteers from a diverse set of backgrounds, theatre, art, music, variety, film making, architecture...for a small group of enthusiasts that's a lot of passion and experience working to save this magnificent Victorian theatre - could you be a part of it?
Phase 1 of the project was the commissioning of a two part Viability Study to establish the work needed to restore this historic theatre as well as looking at its future as a performance venue and how it can best serve the region. Thanks to the help of our partners at Theatres Trust, we have received an Architectural Heritage Fund grant which has enabled us to move on to commissioning Phase 2 which established a route forward and an innovative plan for the Empire's restoration. Thanks to your crowdfunder pledges and our fundraising nights we raised our contribution for it, but the project still has a long way to go!
You can read the Viability study here:
​Theatres Trust launched the 2016 Theatre Buildings at Risk Register on the 12th September. The Burnley Empire campaign is featured quite significantly in the media launch, having moved up the list from #22 to #5 - the campaign was launched by Dara O'Briain, trustee of Theatres Trust. The press launch can be found here and the video channel here. We produced a short video for the launch about our campaign - you can find it here. If you would like to know more please contact our Press Officer at press@burnleyempiretheatretrust.co.uk
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STOP PRESS: After meeting with Burnley Borough Council they are putting the Viability Study to the Scrutiny Committee and considering it down the line as part of the Burnley Town Centre Master Plan. We have put out a joint press release with Theatres Trust and other stakeholders - you can read it here: Press Release

BETT members spreading the word about the Burnley Empire

With your help the Empire can live again for future generations!
We are passionate about saving the Burnley Empire as a performance and community venue for future generations to enjoy - read more about the heritage of this gem and see what you can do to help us save it. Who knows who might find fame treading its boards in years to come...could it be you? Your children? Your grand children? Get involved...