ASHFIELD, MASS.: Double Edge Theatre has purchased its third property with the help of a state grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Facility Fund (CFF), which is known for doling out grants to various organizations within communities to build, repair, and expand their facilities. The two-family home, located at 1216 Conway Road in Ashfield, covers approximately 1.5 acres of land, while connecting to the Double Edge Farm, which is also owned by the theatre. It will be used for storage and to house some of the theatre’s design shops.

Double Edge purchased its first property, the Double Edge Farm, shortly after moving from Boston to Ashfield in 1994. In the years to follow, the theatre would purchase its residence for visiting artists.

This expansion is part of the theatre’s larger goal of contributing to the community, not only through the hiring of local contractors for building and theatre projects, but also through the employment of Ashfield residents. The company hopes to use the state grant to take part in the local economy by helping to attract the thousands of visitors the town receives annually who eat, stay, and purchase goods and services while attending the theatre’s productions .

Stacy Klein, Double Edge’s founder and co-artistic director, commented on the theatre’s purchase in a statement, saying, “The building will be used to house design studios, including giant puppets and other large-scale outdoor performance designs, theatre storage, and for establishing costume and sewing shops which we hope to make accessible to our community. We are using the grant from CFF to purchase this house rather than build a storage facility on the Farm property, which would cramp our wonderful landscape unnecessarily. We are very excited this property became available, as it is a huge value to have it right next door to our major site. We hope to make this beautiful house updated and restore it according to its original design.”