The Gazette got a first glimpse inside the building today (Thursday) and Hackney residents are invited to visit between 4pm and 10pm on Saturday to see what the funds raised will pay for.

Theatre bosses will be shedding light on plans for the new home of Arcola inside a historic Dalston factory this weekend as their fundraising appeal builds pace.

Sculptor Antony Gormley and iconic fashion designer Katharine Hamnett have joined the campaign to raise money for the new Ashwin Street premises.

The Arcola Theatre team will open the doors to the former Colourworks factory opposite Dalston Junction Station for the first time on Saturday (October 2) as they attempt to rise above government spending cuts by asking supporters to dig deep.

Bosses hope to collect �5,000 in private donations every day throughout October in order to raise �150,000 needed for the first stage of the environmentally sustainable development.

The Gazette got a first glimpse inside the building today (Thursday) and Hackney residents are invited to visit between 4pm and 10pm on Saturday to see what the funds raised will pay for.

Meanwhile Gormley, creator of Angel of the North, has produced an original artwork for Arcola that will be auctioned at a special gala event in December.

His design will also be printed onto T-shirts, which will be given to the first 200 donors that give �500 or over.

And Hamnett has revived her eighties ‘Choose Life’ t-shirt to say ‘Choose Arcola’ in support of the theatre.

She said: “Arcola Theatre needs all the financial support we can give it. It has been a testing ground for many great plays and had valuable involvement with the local community.”

Her t-shirts will be sold for �35 each at the current Arcola Theatre in Arcola Street, where it has been based since 2000, with all proceeds going to the appeal.

Donations can be made online at www.arcolatheatre.com, at the box office, or by phone or post.