AUDIENCE figures for Boscombe's revitalised Shelley Theatre have tripled over the past year.

The theatre, built in 1849 for Frankenstein author Mary Shelley by her son Percy, first came back into its original use in 2010, but has only been operating a regular programme since its refurbishment last year.

Its first season averaged around 17 per cent attendance, but during its latest season the charity-run venue averaged a 65 per cent attendance with several shows sold out.

Venue manager Matthew White, who works part time as the only paid employee, said he and the volunteers were "very proud" of this success.

"It is a massive leap for us and we are really pleased about it," he said.

"I think word is getting round that we are here, thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, and we are a lot more organised now. We still get people coming in saying they live around the corner but didn't realise we were here.

"We have been really lucky as about 70 per cent of our programme has been performers coming to us, with an idea or with something they have pre-packaged.

"Most are from the local area, although they can come from anywhere in the country."

One particular hit over the last season was the Christmas show Scrooge, a professional production which saw each of its 11 shows sold out.

The film club, featuring recent hit films, has also been particularly popular.

"This building is full of the history of the Shelley family and of Boscombe, but the refurbishment is still half-finished," said Mr White.

"So as a charity we are still in the fundraising stage, but once we are self-sufficient we will be able to support the artistic community of Boscombe and Bournemouth with our services and facilities, which is our long-term aim.

"In the meantime people can help support us by coming along to our shows. All the money from ticket and food sales goes back into the theatre."

The theatre, in Beechwood Avenue, was originally used by the Shelley family to raise funds for medical services in Boscombe. It later became a hall for Groveley School, a Home Guard base in the Second World War, and a canteen for Bournemouth and Poole Art College before lying empty for nearly a decade.

Currently funds are being sought to install toilets in the basement, refurbish an upstairs studio space and install heating, as well as finding a not-for-profit company to run a fundraising restaurant.

For more information about the theatre, or to help out, visit shelleytheatre.co.uk.