The state government has announced that it will lease the Hopgood Theatre to the City of Onkaparinga on a 25 year peppercorn lease and provide $6M for upgrades to the roof and other parts of the building.

The future of the theatre was uncertain only a few years ago when the previous government indicated it was unwilling to provide ongoing funding to the facility.

The City of Onkaparinga announced late last year that it would take over the management and running costs of the theatre.

This followed a series of rallies and ongoing work by The Friends of the Hopgood Theatre to make sure the valued local facility, used by many local schools and theatre and community groups, was not lost.

The theatre is named after former Premier Don Hopgood and his late wife Raelene Hopgood, both talented jazz musicians and community advocates.

Mr Hopgood was part of the alliance to save the theatre, which was first opened in 1985.