Londonderry's Playhouse enjoys stong community support

The Playhouse community arts centre in Londonderry has made it through to the UK final of the BBC Two programme, Restoration.

It won the Northern Ireland final ahead of the oldest prison in the province, Armagh jail, and the other competitor, a lock keepers cottage in Stranmillis, Belfast.

The Derry building is now in with a chance of winning prize money of more than �2.5m which would be used to restore the building's infrastructure.

The BBC Restoration programme is a national television competition whereby buildings "at risk" compete for funding to be restored, the regional and overall winners being decided by a viewers' vote.

The national final takes place at Hampton Court Palace in London on Sunday.

Pauline Ross, founder and director of The Playhouse, said they were absolutely thrilled that the building would be representing the province.

We would urge the people of Northern Ireland to vote for The Playhouse in this Sunday's national final Roisin McDonough Arts Council of Northern Ireland

"We would like to thank all the people - from the arts, business, media, community and voluntary sectors to individual members of the public - who have supported us over the past few months," she said.

"It is their goodwill and enthusiasm which has got us this far and which could see us win the national final and bring the BBC Restoration title home to Northern Ireland."

If it scoops the national final, plans for the Playhouse include an enhanced theatre space, more rehearsal rooms, a caf�-bar and disabled access as well as major structural improvements in plumbing, heating, electrics and sound insulation.

Niall McCaughan, general manager of The Playhouse said it was a fantastic day but there was still a lot of work to be done.

"In order to win the national final of BBC Restoration, we need more volunteers, donations from local businesses and we also need people right across the UK to vote for us again," he said.

Convent story

Roisin McDonough, chief executive at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland also welcomed the announcement.

She said it was one of the most "forward thinking and progressive community arts centres in Northern Ireland and reaches out to all the communities".

The Playhouse is set on one of the oldest sites in Derry. Nestled against the city walls, it is situated in the former St Mary and St Joseph's school buildings, part of a complex originally owned by the Sisters of Mercy.

Built between 1887 and 1911, the building tells the story of the first convent to be set up in Northern Ireland after the reformation.

Schooling on the site came to an end in 1981. Eleven years later, in 1992, the playhouse was established and has grown into one of Northern Ireland's most diverse and busiest arts centre with strong community support.

The Playhouse will be competing against the following buildings: Gayle Mill in the north of England; Sherborne House in the south west; Newbridge Memorial Hall in Wales; Archbishop's Palace in the south east and Knockando Wool Mill in Scotland.

The Midlands regional winner and best runner-up is still to be announced.

The Playhouse Final Vote Telephone Number will be revealed during the Restoration update programme on Friday 6 August BBC2 at 2100 BST.

Lines will be open from 22 BST on Friday 6 August to 2200 BST on Sunday 8 August.