Scaffolding has gone up around The Grand as work starts on a restoration project.
Funding was secured in May for £450,000 worth of works to replace and repoint damaged brickwork.
The grade-II listed theatre is marking 125 years of operating.
Funding was secured from Arts Council England for the stonework project, and other work will include restoring the Victorian iron rainwater foods and replacing large areas of slate and lead across the two acres of roof.
Chief executive of the Grand Theatre, Adam Knight, said: We are hugely grateful to the Arts Council for this significant and very timely investment in our heritage building, which has been struggling to cope with the impact of climate change and recent Irish Sea storms.
“This funding will also return the theatre’s famous dome and iconic pineapple finial to their former glory and enable us to use the funds that were generously donated by the community. This is just the beginning of the journey to restore Frank Matcham’s masterpiece."
Chief executive of Arts Council England, Darren Henley, said: “This infrastructure investment will help a whole range of different cultural organisations across England to flourish, increasing opportunities for people to enjoy creatively excellent cultural events close to where they live. It’s particularly important that we’re making this happen in communities where cultural investment has historically been low.”
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, minister for arts, heritage and libraries, said: “Cultural venues enrich our lives, and it’s vital that their infrastructure matches the excellence of the creative work that goes on inside them.
“Our funding is helping both to create new venues and to adapt existing ones to make them more accessible, helping to deliver the Government’s plan to make sure that everyone, no matter where they live or what their background, has access to excellent, life-changing cultural opportunities.”
Work on The Grand is the first part of a £15million redevelopment plan for the Church Street area of Blackpool.
The Theatre remains open as usual during the works.
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