Following the launch of English Heritage's new Heritage at Risk register The Theatres Trust highlighted the importance of its own work with local authorities, theatre owners and the public to secure historic theatres for future generations. Director Mhora Samuel added: "English Heritage is encouraging local authorities to make use of its new ambitious and systematic survey of all England's designated heritage at risk. The Theatres Trust is delighted to be able to supplement this initiative with its own ongoing register highlighting the state of the nation's theatres".
Following a dramatic year which saw the partial demolition of Grade II listed Derby Hippodrome, Mhora Samuel added: 'We commend English Heritage's call to local councils to take action and I'm pleased to say that the Trust continues to provide advice to authorities on serving Repairs and Urgent Work and Enforcement Notices where theatres are under threat.'
Unlike English Heritage's Heritage at Risk register, The Theatres Trust's Theatre Buildings at Risk register includes all theatre buildings at risk regardless of listed status or grading. Because of this, the Trust's register will be an important contributor to the proposed Heritage Asset Registers to be held by local councils as part of the new Heritage Protection Bill.
The Theatre Buildings at Risk top ten shares three entries with English Heritage's Heritage at Risk register. These include Plymouth Palace Theatre (Grade II*), Swindon Mechanics Institute (Grade II*) and Wilton's Music Hall, London (Grade II*). Swindon Mechanics Institute remains a priority despite the withdrawal of an appeal for demolition in May this year, whilst Wilton's Music Hall and Plymouth Palace see no real change.
The not so good news is that the Trust's 2008 top ten includes three new entries. Brighton's Gardner Arts Centre (Grade II*) on the University of Sussex campus, remains closed since funding was withdrawn in May 2007. The Farnham Redgrave, a purpose-built local theatre continues to be threatened with demolition with no provision for a replacement in the pipeline. And finally the Bradford Odeon, a large cine-variety theatre is also threatened with total demolition.
But as good news follows bad, three theatres from TBAR 2007's top ten have been saved. These include the Lonsdale Cinema, Carlisle (Grade II), which was added to the Statutory List in 2007; the Theatre Royal Hyde (Grade II) whose new owner is looking to carry out repairs; and the Doncaster Grand Theatre (Grade II) whose developer owner is in the course of selling the theatre to the Friends of Doncaster Grand.
Rupert Rhymes OBE, chairman of The Theatres Trust, concluded: "The Trust remains committed to maintaining the Theatre Buildings at Risk register. By highlighting those theatres most at risk we are able to raise concerns with local councils and support public action to protect our theatres for the nation".
(Lee Baldock)
