Taylor’s Theatre Academy, based in the former Breightmet Library, had spent weeks transforming the front of its new premises for Halloween into spook-tacularly eye-catching display to bring joy to children and the local community.
The academy offers dance, drama, singing and acro classes for children and young people, helping to build their confidence and creativity through performance.
Owner Stacey Taylor said she wanted to make the building feel fun and welcoming for everyone as the academy settled into its new home.
The display featured flashing purple eyeballs, cobwebs, and spooky lights, with plans to expand into a full graveyard scene to ‘honour’ legendary performers such as Michael Jackson and other famous names.
Stacey said it was a way of bringing a bit of excitement to the local community, and getting the children involved.
But just days after adding more decorations, Stacey arrived to find that several of them had been taken, with only a few left behind.
Stacey said: “It’s honestly just sad.
“We wanted to do something that made people smile.
“It wasn’t just for the academy, it was for the whole community.
“You’re not stealing from anyone but the kids and their fun.
“We’re a small local business that provides for the community and that’s how we’re rewarded.
“It just doesn’t make any sense why someone would do this, just get a life.”
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The decorations which cost only a few pounds each were meant to be part of outdoor activities for the academy’s upcoming Halloween camp, attended by around 30 local children.
Stacey added: “We only moved in two months ago, and we were so excited to decorate.
“As soon as it hit October we began building it up bit by bit.
“After this I won’t be doing it again – especially at Christmas, it is just disheartening.”
As Halloween approaches, the academy plans to carry on with its events and workshops as normal, determined to not let the incident spoil the spooky celebrations.