TO quadruple visitor numbers in just two years is a tall order for any theatre but that is exactly what Chesham's Elgiva has achieved.

And the success story just got better this Christmas with ticket sales for the theatre's home-grown pantomime, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, smashing all previous records.

More than 8,500 show-seekers poured into the theatre in less than a month to see the production which was written, directed and produced by former Dr Who scriptwriter and Elgiva manager, David Roden.

The huge popularity of the pantomime is especially sweet for theatre bosses because it was the first time they decided to take the initiative and build everything for the show from scratch, rather than buying it in from outside.

Mark Barnes, spokesman for the Elgiva, said everyone who had been involved in the production was overjoyed with the result.

He said: "Goldilocks and the Three Bears has just done incredibly well we played to an 85 per cent capacity audience throughout the whole run.

"Last year's Mother Goose gave us box office records but we have had a 24 per cent increase in takings this year.

"This is a huge increase, we are over the moon with the outcome."

When writing the hit pantomime, Mr Roden set out to give the audience more to think about than in previous years.

To make the show more of a communal experience, the theatre decided to remove all the stall seating and construct a circus ring to encourage audience participation.

The musical director was Chesham resident, Carole King, and all costumes were designed close to home by Valerie Cheshneau, of Great Missenden.

The production also allowed debutant Luke Weston, from High Wycombe, to complete his first stint on the professional circuit after a series of amateur roles.

TV stars in the pantomime included ex-Coronation Street star Owen Aaronovitch and The Generation Game's Vicki Reid.

The decision to produce the show at the Elgiva was a significant one because it was designed to celebrate the opening of the theatre's new building.

The original Elgiva opened 22 years ago in Elgiva Lane, Chesham, but in 1998 the venue moved as part of a £90 million revamp of the town centre. With the arrival of a new town hall and a Sainsbury's superstore, came the brand new Elgiva theatre in St Mary's Way.

Funded mostly by Sainsbury's, which took over the old site for car parking, the new 300-seater, or 400 standing, venue boasts a coffee shop, restaurant and bar, an expansive foyer and state-of-the-art cinema capabilities.

The move has been instrumental in the rebirth of the Elgiva.

Mr Barnes continued: "The foyer is so much bigger and much more comfortable.

"Our backstage facilities are much improved and we have proper dressing rooms with showers and washrooms rather than a single room with a curtain through the middle.

"With the arrival of our new manager three years ago and the new building, everything has just come together it's much more professional now."

Theatre bosses have recently splashed out £20,000 on high-tech lighting equipment to bolster the Elgiva's unique sound system and, when being used as a cinema, the theatre claims it can fairly boast the area's most advanced Dolby Digital Cinema with surround sound.

The Elgiva concentrates on showing foreign and art-house films but nevertheless attracts a good crowd.

However, Elgiva bosses are keen to emphasise that despite the theatre's financial and commercial successes it is still a community venue run under the control of Chesham Town Council.

Many local groups use the venue, including the Chesham Musical Theatre Company and the Chesham Bois Catholic Players, and the theatre is also available for private hire.

Mr Barnes added: "The Elgiva is very much a community theatre it always has been a community theatre."

And with more than 4,500 keen theatre-goers on its mailing list, it looks as though the show will go on for some time to come.