HALSTEAD'S Empire Theatre is being 'dragged into the 21st century" with the launch of an exciting new website.

The town’s Empire has been offering the town community entertainment, such as films and live shows, for more than a century since its initial opening in 1915.

Staff at the theatre wanted to make its offerings more accessible to the community and therefore have now launched the new, ‘mobile friendly’ website, branded with a new logo.

Members of the public will be able to book showings and events for the theatre online.

Empire Theatre chairman, Jo Collis, who entered her new role earlier this year, said: "We’re dragging the Empire into the 21st century with a mobile-friendly website,

“The site will be quick and easy to use, with no PayPal link - as we know this has been quite a bug bear for some people.

“Instead, the website will take payments from debit and credit cards for bookings."

The site will allow members of the public to view information on upcoming shows, films and other entertainment, as well as book tickets and check theatre opening times.

The Empire Theatre will also have a new front-of-house system installed, linked to the website, for those without internet access.

“If people are passing by or can’t get on to the website but want to book, they can pop in and book at the till,” Jo said.

The website link will remain the same as before, for convenience, at empire-theatre.co.uk.

Jo added: “We’re very excited because everything will be much quicker and easier.

“We’ll have a QR code scanner that will get people in quicker rather than them having to wait outside in the rain.

“It’s going to be far easier for the people of Halstead to visit us."

The website launched on August 6.

The Empire Theatre is open Monday mornings, Wednesday afternoons, Friday nights and Saturday mornings.

For more information, visit empire-theatre.co.uk.