The Cambridge Arts Theatre in England has announced a £16 million ($20.5 million) gift from Giving Pledge signatories Lord David and Dame Susie Sainsbury through the Gatsby Charitable Foundation in support of redevelopment work on the theater.

The funds will be used to complete the first phase of a major redevelopment project, which will include the total refurbishment of the current 666-seat auditorium, upgraded audience facilities, and improved technical services, sight lines, and acoustic performance. The gift builds on the theater’s campaign to add a 200-seat, fully equipped studio theatre on the roof of the existing building. The renovation plans for the existing theatre are specifically designed to allow for the addition of this second space when the funds are available.

“Thanks to this extraordinarily generous gift from the Gatsby Foundation, the theatre is now at the dawn of a new era,” said Cambridge Arts Theatre CEO Dave Murphy. “I am very proud of the part I have played in formulating the plans for the new incarnation of the theatre and helping secure this transformational gift to enable the works to begin. On behalf of all of us at the venue, I want to thank the Gatsby Foundation for their generosity and belief in Cambridge Arts Theatre.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/MarioLisovski)