YORK Theatre Royal has launched a campaign to raise £500,000 to help pay for its biggest upgrade in half a century.

The theatre's bosses want to redevelop the historic building and construct a new foyer by enclosing the existing colonnade to create more space.

The changes - already partly funded by a £3.6m donation from groups including Arts Council England and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation - will also see the Georgian staircase opened up, space provided for a cafe and bar, better toilet facilities and re-tiered seating in the auditorium to improve the view of the stage.

Those in-charge of fundraising at the theatre are giving people the chance to leave their own legacy inside by donating money in return for naming a seat, sponsoring one of the iconic archways, putting money towards the new stage or funding the Prompt Desk in the main house.

Anyone donating money for the various projects will have their name inscribed on a donors' wall when the theatre re-opens. The Press is official media partner for the appeal.

Penelope Worsley, fundraising appeal director, first helped the theatre to raise money in 1967, and has returned to support their latest challenge.

She said: "This is the first major work for 50 years and it's such a community project.

"It involves all the people of York and beyond who enjoy coming to the theatre from Scarborough and Leeds, and further afield.

"There's a sense of excitement and people are longing to make this happen."

The theatre has been at its St Leonard's Place home since 1744, making it the oldest venue of its kind outside London.

And while it is well known for spectacular shows, it also hosts regular workshops for the city's children and its cafe in the existing foyer makes it a popular meeting point for groups.

Damian Cruden, artistic director, added: "This is a theatre that has evolved throughout the years and been in a constant change of flux and growth.

"People can get a real sense that this is a building that belongs to them but it's not something for them to have.

"The re-vitalisation of this theatre, and the whole area, is a huge investment. "We have to find the last part of that jigsaw of £500,000 and we are looking for people to get involved in many different ways."

Sandra Wadley, Friends of York Theatre Royal secretary, said: "We are very lucky to have this theatre.

"With it having more space it will get a lot more passing trade and they will be able to see what's on offer."