The people of Falmouth and Penryn are being urged to prove that they love The Poly by getting behind a Crowdfunding appeal to raise £8,000 which will go towards the match funding needed to unlock a £30,000 grant enabling trustees to embark on a project to transform the building.

Cornwall Council is behind the initial grant for phase one, but trustees of The Poly in Church Street now need to raise the £15,000 match funding. They are talking to local businesses in the hope of drumming up some sponsorship, but they also launched their Crowdfunding page on Monday and have eight weeks to raise the £8,000. They are hoping that people will now dig deep and support them.

The first phase of the transformation project will include reinstating the library, which is currently used as an office and storage space, back to its original form, and dramatically improving the bar area. The library could then be used as a meeting room, a performance space or to host talks and be made available to the public for children's parties or other gatherings.

"To do that, however, we need to move the staff to the annex at the back and the majority of the money would be used to convert that to give staff a cool, comfortable, fully IT equipped environment," said trustee Ruth Bedingham.

"We are very proud of the fact we are self-funding and we survive on the money we get from the entertainment we provide, but we need extra funding and the Crowdfunding will help us create a more modern facility and make it more comfortable and provide disabled access. Our theatre is also not geared up for some of the touring companies that visit so we want to upgrade some of its technical aspects."

The trustees are hoping to re-connect with the local population and show them that The Poly is there for everyone. "There is an element that think it's not for them, it's just for older men or stuck-in-the-mud people, but it's not like that at all," said Ruth. "We really need to change that perception - it really is for all the community."

New trustee Sarah Hertzog added: "The key thing is to get the message out there that this is really exciting and that if you love The Poly then do something and come and see a show. Come and rediscover The Poly."

In a bid to make donating more attractive, a number of rewards are on offer including an I Love The Poly badge for a £5 pledge; a tote bag and car sticker for £10; a pair of tickets for any show and a drink on arrival for £50; up to a VIP experience, including hotel accommodation with dinner and breakfast, taxi, tickets to a show, bottle of Prosecco and a chance to go backstage and meet the performers, for £1,000.

To find out more or make a donation go to crowdfunder.co.uk/transformthepoly.