MAYFLOWER audiences will be seeing red and gold following a nearly £4 million refurbishment next year.

Theatre bosses have today unveiled an artist's impression of how a new colour scheme will look in their historic auditorium.

The red and gold scheme, which will take shape during a planned closure next summer, is a tribute to the glamorous 1920s heritage of the Grade II listed building.

The theatre’s last major auditorium refurbishment was over 30 years ago, when the building was painted its current colour-scheme of turquoise, ocean blue and salmon pink.

Chief executive Michael Ockwell said: "Since we announced our Mayflower 90 Auditorium project in April, the one question I keep getting asked is about the colour scheme. We spent a long time working with paint analysis experts to rediscover what colour schemes have been used over our 89 year history. In conjunction with this we have looked at comparable theatres from across the UK built around the same time as ours.

"The paint samples taken from our walls revealed several different colour schemes over the years including grey, cream, yellow and even a vivid pink scheme in the 1970s.

"We decided on a Red and Gold scheme as it celebrates the tradition and heritage of our building, while also meeting the practical needs of a modern theatre. We sincerely hope that the community embraces this exciting new colour scheme and shares our vision to protect and enhance the legacy of the theatre.”

Specialists will begin testing samples of paint before Christmas, Michael added, “It’s not a case of popping down to the local DIY store for some sample pots of paint, we have to do this large scale – roughly a 20ft section of wall in the balcony will be painted, and then we have to shine our new lights on this area to see the final effect”.

The theatre will close from June 10 following a run of War Horse until late September and will reopen with Wicked.

The refurbishment will also include new seating and accessibility improvements.

So far, Mayflower Theatre has secured £2.6 million towards the £3.95 million project. This is thanks to audience donations, as well as significant gifts from the Garfield Weston Foundation and Backstage Trust. As a charitable trust which receives no direct public subsidy it is seeking public help to raise the remaining £1.35 million needed.