The Brighton Hippodrome, Plymouth’s Palace Theatre and the Victoria Theatre in Salford are at the top of this year’s Theatre Buildings at Risk Register, which lists 33 venues around the UK. Although the number of theatres has decreased, the Theatres Trust has warned the drop is partly down to changes to the way it focuses on venues under immediate threat. The Theatre Buildings at Risk Register is published annually, and identifies venues at risk from demolition, change of use, development, sale, decay and neglect, lack of funding and poor building operation.
Eight venues are new to the list in 2014, with the Trust claiming many of these are on it because local authorities no longer want responsibility for funding or operating them. These include the Secombe Theatre in London and the Muni Arts Centre in Pontypridd. Two venues from Blackpool are new to the register: the Winter Gardens Pavilion and the North Pier Theatre.
A worry for many involved is the extent to which more local authority cuts will lead to further closures, however the Trust’s advisers are working hard to help communities and local authorities find possible solutions. For the first time this year, venues have also been rated according to how important a venue is to its community, alongside risks to the building and quality of the theatre, however this is seemingly difficult to engage.
Brighton’s Hippodrome, which was at the top of the list last year, was labelled the most significant case for the Trust, with efforts ongoing to prevent it from being redeveloped as an eight-screen cinema and restaurant complex. Meanwhile, the Palace in Plymouth was used as a theatre until 1980 before becoming a nightclub, but has been disused since 2006. The Trust said it was supporting the Plymouth Palace Project to develop a business and management plan for the venue.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.