architects’ illustration of completed project in 2024
Theatres Trust, the charity that campaigns to protect the UK’s theatres, has announced that it has removed the magnificent Grade II* listed building – reopening next year after extensive restoration work as Soho Theatre Walthamstow – from its Theatres at Risk Register.
The Theatres at Risk Register, which has been running for 17 years, calls attention to important theatre buildings, their challenges, and the cultural opportunities they bring to local communities. Since the list began, more than 80 theatres have been restored, revived or rebuilt. Soho Theatre Walthamstow is one of only three buildings removed from the risk register this year. to which it was first added in 2015.
Built in 1930 by architect Cecil Masey with interior decoration by Theodore Komisarjevsky, the Walthamstow venue opened as the Granada, an opulent ciné-variety theatre. Thirty years later it embraced live music concerts in between film engagements, hosting scores of famous acts including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash and The Ronettes. The Granada was given a Grade II Listing by English Heritage on 24th February 1987. The cinema then carried on through a number of changes of hands, including Virgin and ABC, before closed in 2003 as the EMD cinema, and the building was then bought by a group who planned to turn it into a church. The local community and Theatres Trust objected, on the grounds that the borough would lose its only working theatre and access to entertainment, the purpose for which the building was originally intended.
Local residents’ groups campaigned for the building to continue as an entertainment venue and in 2012 Waltham Forest Cinema Trust and Soho Theatre presented its vision of the building’s future to Waltham Forest Council. A decisive public planning inquiry ruled the following year in favour of the building continuing as an entertainment venue. After the church group sold the building a year later, part of it reopened as a bar, but the rest of the building, already in a terrible state from almost 20 years of neglect, fell into further disrepair.
It was added to the Theatres at Risk Register in 2015. Meanwhile Soho Theatre and Waltham Forest Council developed plans to acquire, restore and run the venue as an exciting new cultural hub – a local theatre with a national profile – and in 2019 the Council purchased the building with Soho Theatre on board to run the theatre. Thanks to the support of Theatres Trust, in 2020 they awarded Soho Theatre a Theatres at Risk Capacity Building Programme grant which enabled them to business plan and continue to support the project.
Coming off the At Risk Register in 2023 marks another major milestone in the building’s rich and fascinating history, and is cause for celebration indeed!
Soho Theatre Walthamstow during renovation work in 2022
Theatres Trust are looking for consultants to join their new national support framework supporting theatres across the UK as part of their new Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities project.
They are looking to commission between 20 and 30 mentors and advisers to the role of Consultant Specialist Advisers who will join our new national support framework supporting projects across the UK. This framework is being launched as part of the new Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities project, which aims to help theatres in need across the UK.
Made possible thanks to a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund as well as funding from the Pilgrim Trust and Swire Charitable Trust, the project aims to reduce the threat to ‘at risk’ theatres and strengthen the theatre sector’s resilience.
Specialist Advisers will act as a ‘critical friend’, providing mentoring or advice to groups working with theatre buildings in the UK. They will work alongside the Trust’s Advice Team, particularly the Theatres at Risk Adviser, and will be commissioned to work predominantly with organisations and groups connected to their Theatres at Risk and who would benefit from additional support to enable them to move forward with their plans.
Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 27th January
Southport Garrick Theatre- a new addition to the At Risk list this year. Photo Courtesy Ian Grundy/ Theatres Trust website
This year the Theatres Trust’s newly-published Theatres at Risk List has by far its largest number of new additions as the impacts of COVID-related uncertainty continue to bite.
The new additions to the list have been helpfully categorised into sections including Local Authority Closure or Disposals, where local authorities reduce their bricks and mortar holdings due to financial pressure. This has caused the addition of
Clair Hall in Haywards Heath Netherton Arts Centre in Dudley Thameside Theatre in Thurrock
Theatres in Other Use Put up for Sale by private owners where their businesses have been negatively impacted by COVID caused the addition of
Garrick Theatre in Southport Imperial Theatre in Walsall
Threat of Demolition and Redevelopment is an ever-increasing threat, as developers eye attractively large-footprinted sites to build, and Councils feel the weight of central Government expectations to fulfil their ambitious annual new housing quotas, at the risk of withdrawing funding if they fail. This threat has caused the addition of
Amulet Theatre in Shepton Mallet Borough Hall in London Borough of Greenwich Roundhouse in Dover
Vacant and Deteriorating properties suffer from a compounded neglect which pushes them closer to being unrecoverable. This has brought these theatres into the list
Globe in Plymouth Regent Theatre in Great Yarmouth
This covers the new additions.
Progress
On the brighter side, there is encouraging progress that is being made at several of the existing listees, including Morecambe Winter Gardens, Burnley Empire, Leith Theatre and others.
However….
We need to put this in perspective and remember the dozens of other theatres at risk on the list, including the fine Dudley Hippodrome now slated for demolition, and the Hulme Hippodrome at immediate risk of being too far gone to recover, who reminded us on Twitter (below) that there are six at risk theatres in Greater Manchester alone.
You can read the full Theatres at Risk 2022 list here or simply view the listings here
The Hippodrome vision – it could be this….but it might be this….
Arts Council England has just identified Dudley as one of the “Priority Places” in the UK where arts and culture are significantly underfunded by ACE, and is consequently substantially boosting their investment in Dudley to help the locality grow their arts and culture offering in order to benefit their communities, which is great news for everyone.
So can this be the right time for Dudley Council to press ahead with their application to demolish the area’s largest single arts and culture asset, the Dudley Hippodrome- the only purpose-built professional theatre in the area?
As Heritage Open Days 2021 draw to a close, when all across the country, local authorities have proudly celebrated their priceless heritage buildings, I aim to do what the Council seems not to have done – to celebrate Dudley Hippodrome
This article introduces Dudley Hippodrome to those of you who may not live nearby, or have heard of it before. Locals have heard it all, I am sure, but this article aims to give an overview of the building, the story, the struggle and the vision that could, potentially, bring Dudley Hippodrome back from the brink.
The Dudley Hippodrome
The Dudley Hippodrome is an impressive Art Deco theatre with over 70 successful years of entertainment history, bringing enjoyment to the community and visitors from far and wide. However, its last 12 years have been dogged by closure and neglect. Now it faces the prospect of demolition -for a third time- with few friends in the Council and only the people of Dudley to speak up for it. And boy are they shouting! The saga of the fight against demolition, with the passion, dogged perseverance and the angry cries of the people – is an involved one, but I have broken it down into sections in the hope that you’ll stay with me – to introduce you to one of the important heritage preservation battles of 2021.
The history of the Dudley Hippodrome – “The Showplace of the West Midlands”
When the town of Dudley in the West Midlands lost the Dudley Opera House, built in 1899, which burned down in 1936, its proprietor, Benjamin Kennedy, decided to demolish the remains and build an entirely new theatre on the same site. The Dudley Hippodrome, as the new building was called, was built in 1937/8 and opened in 1938.
c.1910 Postcard showing the Dudley Opera House on the site now occupied by the Hippodrome
Kennedy was also the owner of a new cinema, the Plaza, built in 1936 to replace a previous one which stood right next to the Opera House. The Plaza cinema was designed by local architect Archibald Hurley Robinson. Robinson’s main body of work was in and around the west Midlands, with his practice established in Birmingham. Hurley Robinson was known as a prolific cinema designer over a 25 year period from World War 1 to the outbreak of World War 2.
Dudley Plaza at left (demolished 1997) and Hippodrome sit side by side in undated photo – 50s?
So, when Kennedy was looking for an architect for his new Hippodrome, he turned once again to Hurley Robinson. Although built as a variety theatre, its construction was very much in line with the look and style of super cinemas of the 1930s. Indeed, the Hippodrome is the only theatre on Hurley Robinson’s long list of building credits.
The Hippodrome opened in December 1938, seating a total of 1,750 in stalls and circle, with the region’s largest stage and fly tower- amply equipped to present big touring shows. For many years the Hippodrome was proudly known across the country as “the Showplace of the West Midlands”.
The owner, Benjamin Kennedy died on 10 April 1939, passing on responsibility for running the theatre to his sons, Maurice and Robert. The theatre then enjoyed a glittering couple of decades of operation, with top stars from all around the world headlining here including Laurel and Hardy, Bob Hope, Tommy Cooper, Ken Dodd, Bruce Forsyth and many more.
Programme from 1947
The theatre ran into financial difficulties in 1958, in common with many UK theatres which were then suffering the combined effects of the decline of variety coupled with the new television channels luring away their audiences with the offer of free entertainment in their own homes.
Dudley Hippodrome, “the Showplace of the West Midlands” – the impressive auditorium
After a few months of closure, the Hippodrome re-opened under new ownership in December with a pantomime to tide them over the holiday season. But eventually changing times saw another change of owners and the final stage show at the theatre came on 24 February 1964, and the last live concert starred Roy Orbison in 1974.. A succession of new owners through the 60s and 70s finally saw the Hippodrome reverting to bingo, and it was as a bingo hall that the theatre closed in 2009, after 70 years of operation.
The empty years
In 2010 the building was placed on the Theatres Trust’s annual At Risk Register for the first time (it has appeared every year since). Later in 2010 the building was purchased by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.
For those wishing all the details of the theatre’s next few years, the Theatres Trust website can provide you with a detailed background information which you can find here.
In short, the Council compulsorily purchased the building with the possibility of demolition for a scheme which didn’t happen and the building has been empty and languishing ever since. Several interested groups have wanted to revive the venue, but according to Theatres Trust reports, none of them appear to have had the right level of support or finance available to them, together with too many constraints which limited their chances of success from the start.
But now things move up a gear……
The Friends, the Trust – and the Council
The Dudley Hippodrome Friends and Community Group was established in early 2020 and quickly grew a sizeable following on Facebook of over 2,500 followers. What the group has tried to do, with little outside support or assistance, financial or otherwise, is revive the idea of returning the theatre to its previous role as a vital community hub. They have done a remarkable job in mobilising local opinion and feeling to support their aims and my heartiest congratulations go out to each of them for their commitment and hard work.
In an extension of the Friends and Community group, the Dudley Hippodrome Development Trust was formed in April of this year, applying to register as a charity to fundraise seriously and step up their fight to save the Hippodrome.
The DHDT/Friends’ vision for the Hippodrome is positive, ambitious but is well-considered as well as achievable and offers incalculable benefits to the community.
The vision
The Hippodrome sits upon an important site at the gateway to Dudley town, close by the Zoo and Dudley Castle. This whole area is rightly designated a conservation area, which gives higher protection for buildings than if they were simply locally listed. This illustration below shows the aspect as you approach the ‘Heritage Quarter’ and the Gateway to Dudley.
The proposed glazed aspect (on the right hand side of this illustration) would be repeated on the opposite side facing the Zoo and Castle. It cleverly turns the previous “wall of brick” side aspects into something really attractive from all sides.
The DHDT and Friends’ vision is that the theatre would be repurposed leaving a Main Auditorium, albeit with smaller capacity, allowing the construction of a secondary Studio Theatre for smaller shows / events and rehearsals, increasing the potential footfall even further. This approach has been proven to work in other entertainment venues such as the very successful Stockport Plaza.
Moving on to the massive basement with its own entrances which is now reinvented as an all day venue for healthy breakfasts, brunches, lunches, dinners and drinks where you would find a Deli/Bakery, Vegan and Street Food Concessions, Shakes/Ices, Artisan Deli/Coffee House, Prosecco/Ginsecco, Black Country Craft Ales and a Gin and Ale Bar & Kitchen….a vibrant world of food and drink options.
The adjoining soundproofed rehearsal studios would have the flexibility to open out to form a Black Box Theatre with platform stage and flexible seating layouts. Eclectic community meeting rooms, Kids cinema/Xbox/PS4 lounge, and more. The basement studios would benefit younger people of Dudley’s diverse community for musical instrument tuition and performances, acting, singing and dancing, education, health, well-being and personal development, empowering and inspiring for generations to come. What an amazing asset to the community and for local community services to tap into!
Upstairs on the higher levels, the vision continues with a nod to the past. Glazed aspects overlooking the gateway to Dudley, a Laurel and Hardy (who appeared here in 1947) themed Cocktail Bar/Kitchen/Restaurant for lunch, brunch, afternoon teas and pre-show dinner or personal dining with Sunday lunches and special celebratory occasions catered for in style. A rooftop terrace would be added to enjoy views of the town and the Castle.
Here we have a clear, comprehensive, well-thought out plan for a revived and thriving much-loved heritage building. A plan any town (or future city) would be proud of. You’d think….
The struggle and the silence
The Friends/DHDT group has done fantastic work with rallying the local community, generating some smaller-scale fundraising and has created the above visuals to communicate their inspiring vision of how the theatre could revive not only its own interests, but also, according to locals, the run-down Dudley centre which is crying out for regeneration. But it is perplexing that the Conservative-led Council doesn’t appear to be interested.
The Friends/DHDT group has found support from opposition councillors, with Ryan Priest, a spokesman for Dudley Liberal Democrats, saying “To tear down such a significant icon of our history, and to ignore the calls for its restoration is an absolute failure of leadership. Dudley Hippodrome is a local landmark, an important part of Black Country history, and if reopened and restored to its former glory could have a huge impact on the local area.”
Passion is all very well, you may say, but where is the evidence it can work? The Friends and DHDT asked for just £15,000 to survey and analyse the potential for the Hippodrome’s viability as a leisure and entertainment venue. In the only Council meeting they were granted- on June 2nd this year- Mr Harley, the Leader of the Council, seemed to think that was reasonable – so reasonable that there and then he offered the group that £15,000, stating himself that the sum asked was “a drop in the ocean”. But a few weeks later that offer was withdrawn. Could this have aligned with the news that money had come through to proceed with their alternative regeneration plans which involved the Hippodrome’s demolition….
What, we must ask ourselves, could Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council possibly not see in exploring the potential of the Hippodrome? That a large-scale entertainment venue, viable for 70 years, could be brought back to life, bringing financial input into the area by rejuvenating the day-time and night-time economy, opening up opportunities for business to benefit from increased footfall and visitor numbers, providing a first-rate entertainment venue for local people and surrounding areas which they currently lack?
And yet here in their midst is a ready-made, plush, purpose-built, 1500+ seater theatre with comfy seats and great sightlines, and all the potential to bring popular big-scale touring shows into the heart of Dudley, with the resultant financial benefits. Evidence? The hit musical Blood Brothers has already expressed an interest to play a revived Dudley Hippodrome. Just think how many other shows would jump at the chance, given the opportunity?
The Council may not wish to acknowledge the reality of the Hippodrome’s current existence, but there is a growing clamour for positive action to save this significant asset – owned, let’s not forget, by the Dudley people whose hard-earned money was used by the Council to buy it.
Some of the protestations that the building is ugly and austere are very easily countered by the new vision for the building. The current large expanses of brick are broken down by the new additions, making it much more attractive. And yes, it’s run-down right now. But it has been unused for ten years – and any run-down building can be spruced up with a little vision, some money- and the will to do so. Someone also commented along the lines of “It’s just a building-no culture here”. A building is just a building – well, you could say the say the same of a school, a church or even a castle. It’s the people who use it that make a building come to life – and to deny the value of the arts impoverishes the whole community.
The recent news of a financial award for a regeneration scheme was not good news for the Hippodrome. The Council have pushed forward with its application to knock down the Hippodrome (at an estimated cost of £5million, not to mention the huge environmental costs), and spend yet more taxpayers’ money on building some big boxy college buildings in its place. All this, remember, in one of the Council’s own-designated Conservation Areas! The application for demolition was posted in August and statements both for and against demolition have been sent, including a strongly-worded objection by Theatres Trust, the UK’s leading authority on our theatre heritage buildings, as well as the Twentieth Century Society, who stand up for all significant buildings of that period. The application period has closed (although objections can still be posted at the Council’s planning site), and now we wait to hear about the date of the hearing which will finally decide Dudley Hippodrome’s fate.
With feelings understandably running high, it’s important to maintain perspective. As one person writing to the local newspaper helpfully summed up in this way. No-one is saying “let’s not have the college”; what people are saying is “have the college somewhere else, and let’s have both”. Which must be a win-win in any borough’s book. There has not been any reason given why the college has to be built upon the site of the Hippodrome, as far as I know.
Is that idea so controversial that it can’t be viewed as the “win-win” that everyone in Dudley could agree upon – and benefit from?
So we arrive back at the present Heritage Open Days – with Dudley Council’s social media seeming to forget to include the Hippodrome, whilst still asking people to name their favourite building, with many loud replies coming back – the Dudley Hippodrome!
SOME QUESTIONS WORTH THINKING ABOUT
Why did a community survey of development options which omitted the Hippodrome entirely get responses from just 0.18% of the population (within a six-mile radius), yet the petitions in favour of retaining the Hippodrome gathered over 15,000 signatures, representing over 3% of the population? What does that tell us about how more passionate Dudley people are to see their Hippodrome retained and revived than demolished?
Why have the Theatres Trust and the Twentieth Century Society both objected so strongly to the loss of this theatre?
Can the Council find justification for demolishing a building which sits in one of its own designated Conservation Areas, which in itself should afford more protection than Local Listing ?
“Isn’t it listed?” you may say. It is not, because the theatre sits in a Conservation area, which means that all the elements of that Conservation area are protected – and indeed have more protection than Local Listing alone would confer.
It is hard to understand why the Hippodrome was not included in the Heritage Open Days celebration media and other publications.
Dudley Hippodrome? Why isn’t it here on this Dudley Architectural Heritage Trail leaflet…..Dudley Hippodrome? Why isn’t it here on Dudley Heritage Open Days 2021 website either……
Can Dudley Council’s admirable commitment to the Climate Emergency Agreement be reconciled with the needless wholesale demolition of the Hippodrome, releasing thousands of tonnes of unnecessary emissions upon the people of Dudley over a sustained period of time?
In lodging the application for the Hippodrome’s demolition, were the Council aware that this application contradicts their own Action Plan, the National Planning Policy Framework and Dudley Development Strategy too?
Can anyone explain why the proposed new college building needs to be built right where the Hippodrome is, when there are plenty of other sites where demolition of existing buildings is not needed, saving countless unnecessary emissions? If there is a valid reason it should be known.
Wouldn’t it be good to know who, if any, current members of Dudley Council actually been inside the Hippodrome building to see what is there?
I wonder if the people of Dudley consider the current non-purpose built entertainment venues are good enough for them, when they have a plush, purpose-built theatre with perfect sightlines, great acoustics and big-show potential to rival the rest of the UK which stands waiting but unused?
Would the people of people of Dudley prefer to have £15,000 spent on a viability study BEFORE anyone commits to spending £5MILLION on wholesale demolition of a building that the people of Dudley own?
Will Leader Harley consider reinstating his offer of £15,000 for the DHDT to complete a Viability Study to settle the theatre’s future once and for all? Surely both sides would be bound to accept the result?
“A theatre is the heart of the community”
Sir Ken Dodd on Black Country Radio, talking about the Dudley Hippodrome
SOME FACTS WORTH THINKING ABOUT
The Dudley Hippodrome is the only surviving theatre built by this local architect.
The theatre proved itself financially viable for 70 years. There seems no reason it cannot be viable again with the right vision. This could be easily and quickly validated with a Viability Study.
The building comprises a major 1500+ seat auditorium with full stage facilities, which qualifies it to bring the very best Number One touring shows right to Dudley people’s doorsteps.
The building extends over five floors with large amounts of useable internal space. The huge self-contained basement, large numbers of rooms and other areas could provide fantastic community resources as well as providing significant volumes of local employment opportunities.
The Friends group discovered that there is a 1920 Covenant on the land on which the Hippodrome sits, forbidding anything else to be built upon it than a theatre, playhouse, shops or housing.
Theatres are a hugely valuable heritage asset which have the potential to bring a wealth of value to their localities. Many other UK towns are now reaping the huge benefits of understanding these buildings in terms of being strong community hubs as well as tourist attractors, not to mention increased footfall, job creators and day and night-time economy opportunities that they bring.
Dudley has expressed a desire to apply for City status next year. One of the key qualifiers is appropriate entertainment provision. A City without a professional Theatre is a non-starter. However, a retained and revived Hippodrome could be one of Dudley’s keys to city status.
The beautifully renovated and recently reopened Stockton Globe, bringing entertainment, jobs, money and footfall to benefit its community. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
ELSEWHERE……
Councils up and down the country are falling over themselves to bring these irreplaceable buildings back into use – Stockton on Tees has recently reopened the beautifully-renovated Globe Theatre seating 1700 with top-notch management from theatre specialists ATG, Walthamstow in London has its Granada Theatre on the way to renovation seating 1500, with a reduced size main auditorium and many rooms and spaces available to the community, run by Soho Theatre Company. Morecambe’s massive 2000 plus Winter Gardens is gradually coming back to life, and Burnley Empire is diligently, productively laying the groundwork for future success. There are many other success stories waiting to be heard. It is hard to understand why, when all these areas are enthusiastically getting behind their local theatres, reaping all the many benefits, why is Dudley the only one going in the opposite direction?
Walthamstow Granada, London, currently in a major refurbishment which echoes the ideas of the Hippodrome proposals. They are making it work, so surely Dudley can too?
AND LET’S NOT FORGET THE MONEY
Detailed financial studies by Gateshead Council in 2010-11 showed that for each £1 invested in arts provision there, over £4 was returned to benefit the local economy. Surely Dudley Council would want to at least explore that kind of massive financial potential?
THE CRUNCH IS THIS…..
A “drop in the ocean” £15,000 viability study would determine once and for all whether the Hippodrome has a viable future. Surely the Council wouldn’t have a problem with that? And just think how easily this could be done…
The Council has a precious opportunity to listen to the people, support their vision, and reap the many benefits – including opening the door to potential future City status. It could, but will it?
AND FINALLY: I see Dudley Council are presenting their redevelopment plans at the High Streets and Town Centres Development Conference in London (online plus in-person) on September 22nd. How interesting that the innovative Stockton-on-Tees Council will appear before them at the same conference, talking about the regeneration of their Globe Theatre and how it contributes to their borough’s cultural and financial economies – let’s hope Dudley will be listening…….
Please visit the Friends’ site to sign the petition to save the Dudley Hippodrome here
If you can afford to, please contribute to the Friends group’s fighting fund here
UPDATE 13 October – Theatres Trust requests “call-in” for Dudley Hippodrome demolition planning application. Read the details here
On Tuesday 20th July at 4.00pm, Claire Appleby, Architectural Advisor at Theatres Trust presented a hugely engaging and exhaustive (but not exhausting) overview of Theatres at Risk in the UK, highlighting successes and losses and pointing up where there is hope of revival. Claire’s passion, knowledge, focus and love of her subject helped her audience enjoy the event in ways that many other presenters could not have achieved.
The Theatres Trust was established 60 years ago, as a response to the loss of over 800 theatres across the UK in the years prior to its establishment, and during its lifetime has put its authoritative weight behind many community and arts groups in saving theatres from the wrecker’s ball.
It is worth remembering that the Theatres Trust’s involvement in supporting retention, revival and reuse has contributed to 80 out of 177 theatres being open for performance or other use since the Theatres at Risk Register started fifteen years ago.
Claire talked us through the 31 theatres which are on the 2021 Theatres at Risk Register, an annual event which aims to publicise our irreplaceable theatre heritage. The list has at its core a number of theatres which are unused, hastening decline through decay- frustratingly, many have been on this annual list every year since its inception in 2006. But one of the great benefits of the list is that it sparks public attention and concern- and in some cases, spurs further efforts to retain them.
Claire described the way the list was created, with theatres being given a 1-3 (3 being the highest) score in each of three categories – Community Value (the theatre must have the potential to be returned to theatre use and have potential to benefit its locality), Star Rating (listed status which recognises great architecture or otherwise significant buildings) and Risk Factor (whether the building has operational issues, is vacant, deteriorating, vulnerable to redevelopment) .
Brighton Hippodrome, currently on the Theatres Trust’s Theatres at Risk 2021 list
The really valuable thing about a theatre’s score from this assessment therefore highlights the theatres most at risk, of most architectural value and with the most potential to be returned to theatre use. So, actually, its a really positive and forward-thinking way to identify an at risk building which gives it a better chance to be successfully brought back into use.
Further to this, in 2019 the Trust set up the Theatres at Risk Capacity Fund which is supported by a small number of organisations who provide funding sums. These are allocated as small-scale grants to theatres at the initial stages of their rehabilitation journey. These funds help groups pay for the very early-stages work which is almost impossible to fund elsewhere these days- things like exploratory work, business advice, planning advice, consultancy, viability studies, etc. In its three years of operation, the fund has benefitted 15 theatres at risk with funds totalling £203,000.
Claire’s 100-minute marathon was certainly a tale of highs and lows, with several theatres on the brink of making strides forward, including the vandalised-by-bulldozer Derby Hippodrome which currently exists without a roof, . On the other end of the scale, several venues were teetering on the edge of demolition, which is most regrettable, the worst loss of which is the fabulous 1500-seat Dudley Hippodrome, which the Council has received £25million from central funds to demolish it and build a college. This effectively leaves the town without a fit-for purpose theatre space, the old Town Hall which is sometimes used for events has no raked seating and draws endless complaints from customers. While its still standing, we can hope. Similarly, The Intimate Theatre in Palmers Green, London has been slated for demolition, although the decision has recently been recalled so there is a glimmer of hope there.
The one addition to the 2021 list was the CoOp Hall in Ramsbottom, which is an 1870s music hall unused since 1944. A recent rediscovery in remarkably good condition, it was originally slated for housing redevelopment, but thankfully all concerned move quickly, Remains . Bury council took swift action to protect the building, Theatres Trust applied for listed status, and much more work has been done to secure the building’s survival, including the local preservation group having just been allotted an award from the Architectural Heritage Fund
2020-21 has obviously been a particularly difficult year for all venues, especially disused buildings of all types, and therefore the work of the Trust’s Theatres at Risk program has become even more important.
The art of reviving a theatre- and it is most definitely an art- involves establishing, nurturing and funding a complex network of relationships between owners, landlords, leaseholders, developers, community groups, councils, arts organisations, potential grant aiders and potential supporters. The Trust’s skill, perseverance and diligence in its work in this area is not to be underestimated!
What the Theatres Trust has demonstrated is that by using their status and authority in considered and constructive ways, together with targeted grants from supportive funders they can immeasurably help those “on the ground” with the spirt and will but little experience tap into the support that they need to be able to create compelling applications for planning, listing and funding, and by opening doors to experience through early seed funding, they are actively contributing to reviving as many of our irreplaceable theatres as possible, and for that they deserve our praise and gratitude.
