A likely pair has teamed up to share space in a new partnership between the Thalian Association Community Theatre and Port City Escape.

The local family-owned and operated escape room is providing the Thalian Association space to construct theater sets in a 2,600-square-foot warehouse building on the Port City Escape property at 813 S. 16th St. in Wilmington, according to Kris Testori.

She and her husband, Doug Testori, own the property.

“We just thought there was a really huge tie between theater and the escape room because you are constantly changing scenes … We’re really excited about it," Kris Testori said Thursday of the partnership. "I think it’s going to be great just tying in the two live theater pieces together."

Port City Escape, a venue that provides an interactive game experience where guests use problem-solving skills to escape a room, opened its doors to the public a little more than a year ago. When the Testoris purchased the building that now houses its escape rooms, the property parcel included a second building that, until now, has not been fully utilized.

Testori said the escape room has used the warehouse space for its own set construction, but had an extra 1,200 square feet for the Thalian Association to use.

Thalian Association officials said in a recent news release that the partnership comes after 25 years of outsourcing set design services and will provide the ideal space for "creativity to come to life."

"Both Doug and I could not think of a better use for our warehouse," Testori said in the release. "Several of our seasonal employees have benefited from time spent performing and producing community theater. Our business prides itself on a truly unique escape room experience and is proud to assist these talented individuals in their creative efforts."

Inside Port City Escape's warehouse, Thalian will build many of the Official Community Theatre of North Carolina 2017-2018 main stage and youth theater sets. Construction has already been completed at the site for the set of Hairspray, the opening show of Thalian Association’s youth theater season, Testori said Thursday.

Construction on the Main Stage Thalian Hall holiday show, A Christmas Story: the Musical, is slated to begin soon, Thalian officials said.

“Most local theater companies struggle with finding a dedicated space to craft the sets and backdrops that bring a story to life,” Susan Habas, executive director for Thalian Association, said in the release. “The Testoris and the staff at Port City Escape continue to be amazing community partners for the benefit of theatergoers in the Cape Fear area.”

Habas said space will also allow the Thalian Association the chance to recycle its sets, a cost benefit for the theater.

“This is a great leadership example; just doing something like giving a space does a lot for a nonprofit group,” she added. “We're only here because of the support of our community.”

Established in 1788, Thalian Association Community Theatre is a non-profit, membership organization dedicated to live community theater and arts education. Thalian Association Community Theatre produces five major productions annually on the Main Stage at historic Thalian Hall and five youth theater productions on the Second Street Stage in the Community Arts Center.

“The decision to bring back managing the entire set design process allows our team of theater professionals to return to our true community days of the past,” said Lance Howell, technical advisor for Thalian Association, in the release. "I now have a space to help educate and train the set designers of the future, ensure that the visual vision of our plays remains authentic, and reduce spending for this important non-profit entity.”