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The Theatres Trust, the charity campaigning to protect the UK’s theatres, has published its annual Theatres at Risk Register, which highlights theatres across the UK under threat of closure, redevelopment or severe decay.

All of the theatres on the At Risk register have the potential to be revived for their local communities with the right support.

This year’s list sees two theatre buildings added to the register: Abbeydale Picture House in Sheffield, a Grade II listed former cine-variety theatre, added as its building fabric has significantly deteriorated in recent years, leaving its main auditorium unusable and the programming of this community arts venue unviable.

Also added to the register is the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool, which faces an uncertain future after Liverpool City Council was unable to renew its lease of the building and subsequently the associated management agreement with the incumbent theatre operator. Operator Epstein Entertainments Ltd has likewise been unable to agree new lease terms with the building landlord forcing the theatre’s closure in June 2023. This has left this unique theatre and concert hall vacant and with no plans for the future.

In even worse news, Dudley Hippodrome has now been removed from the Theatres at Risk Register as it was tragically demolished in autumn 2023 to make way for a new university building. This purpose-built 1930s variety theatre was the only remaining lyric theatre in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley.

The Theatres at Risk Register is now in its 18th year, and calls the public’s attention to these important buildings, their challenges, and the significant cultural opportunities they can bring to local communities. Since the list began in 2006, more than 80 theatres have been restored, revived or had a suitable replacement built.

While no theatres have been saved and removed from the list this year, some progresses is being made, including support for Theatres Trust’s Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities programme of grants, training and expert advice, supporting theatres on the list as they move forward through periods of change and development.

Gary Kemp, Theatres Trust Ambassador, musician and actor said in a statement: “Theatres are an essential part of our cultural life and bring so much to communities everywhere. I’m proud to support Theatres Trust in its mission to ensure these wonderful buildings survive for current and future generations to enjoy.”

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “We welcome the move to add The Epstein to the risk register as this offers renewed hope for this extraordinary space. In their role as intermediary, the Theatres Trust can now ensure there are productive conversations between the commercial landlord and any potential operators, with the shared ambition to find a positive solution which would see this important cultural asset reopening its doors.”

Jon Morgan, Theatres Trust Director said: “The changes to the Theatres at Risk Register represent the wider issues we are seeing across the theatre sector. Squeezes on local authority budgets means many are stepping away from or significantly reducing funding to theatres, while rising costs and scarcity of funding is making it harder to repair, maintain and update buildings. We believe that all of these buildings are worth the investment, not only as valuable social and cultural facilities but also for their potential contribution to wider placemaking and regeneration.”

Theatres Trust – Theatres at Risk Register 2024

  • Brighton Hippodrome
  • Theatre Royal Margate
  • Victoria Pavilion / Winter Gardens, Morecambe
  • Hulme Hippodrome
  • Plymouth Palace
  • Victoria Theatre, Salford
  • Groundlings Theatre, Portsea
  • Spilsby Session house
  • Streatham Hill Theatre, London
  • Theatr Ardudwy, Harlech
  • Winter Gardens Pavilion, Blackpool
  • Abbeydale Picture House, Sheffield – NEW
  • Burnley Empire
  • Garston Empire, Liverpool
  • Intimate Theatre, London
  • Mechanics’ Institute, Swindon
  • Tottenham Palace Theatre, London
  • Leith Theatre, Edinburgh
  • Epstein Theatre, Liverpool – NEW
  • Joe Longthorne Theatre, Blackpool
  • Roundhouse Theatre, Dover
  • Co-op Music Hall, Ramsbottom
  • Doncaster Grand
  • Garrick Theatre, Southport
  • King’s Theatre, Dundee
  • Amulet Theatre, Shepton Mallet
  • Conwy Civic Hall (Cube)
  • Derby Hippodrome
  • Borough Hall, Greenwich
  • Kings Theatre, Kirkcaldy
  • Thameside Theatre, Grays
  • Tameside Hippodrome, Ashton-under-Lyne
  • Globe Theatre, Plymouth
  • Imperial Theatre, Walsall
  • Regent Theatre, Great Yarmouth
  • Clair Hall, Haywards Heath
  • Netherton Arts Centre, Dudley
  • Theatre Royal, Hyde
  • Theatre Royal, Manchester
Links:
Theatres Trust
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Main photo: Epstein Theatre Liverpool. Photo by Ian Grundy

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