The Theatres Trust

The Localism Bill is now the Localism Act and references cultural assets

12th November 2011

The Localism Act 2011 received Royal Assent on Tuesday 15 November following eleven months of parliamentary scrutiny. The Bill progressed rapidly through its final stages, with MPs accepting all the Lords Amendments on 7 November. Speaking in the Commons on 7 November , Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark told MPs: “This is an historic bill, not just for the measures it contains but for what it represents. It is about striking out in a different direction. Power should be held at the lowest possible level.”

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Dewsbury Little Theatre sale funds could help town halls

11th November 2011

Money made from the sale of Dewsbury Little Theatre should be invested into town halls to keep local amateur dramatics alive. That’s the call of one councillor, who believes some of the money made by Kirklees Council from selling the Batley Carr site should be spent on audience facilities at Batley, Dewsbury and Cleckheaton town halls.

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Tunbridge Wells Trinity Theatre seeks to go greener – and save

11th November 2011

The Trinity Energy Savings project seeks to install insulation into the entire roof space of the theatre. The main auditorium is heated via gas burners mounted to the ceiling. However, this means that much of the heat is lost immediately.

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Yarmouth Mecca Bingo hall closure announced

11th November 2011

A key part of Great Yarmouth’s entertainment industry is to be lost after bosses announced Mecca Bingo is pulling out of the town. The bingo hall, based at the former Regent cinevariety on Regent Road, will close on December 4, leaving the Grade II listed venue vacant.

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Businessman behind Colchester theatre nursery plans submits application to Council

11th November 2011

A businessman has been unveiled as the possible new owner of Colchester’s former Garrison Theatre. Tim Fergus, who grew up in Colchester, is planning on turning the site into a nursery, eventually employing up to 25 full-time staff. If the plans, submitted to Colchester Council this week, are given the thumbs-up, Mr Fergus hopes the nursery will be open in six to nine months.

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Arts Council England ignored good advice over The Public, West Bromwich

11th November 2011

Arts Council England has been lambasted in an independent report for its handling of its £31.8 million investment in The Public in West Bromwich. The review by Anthony Blackstock, entitled The Public – Lessons learned by Arts Council England, follows a report by the culture, media and sport select committee published in March that called the project a “gross waste of public money”.

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Private sector fundraising “not enough”, warn arts bodies

11th November 2011

One-third of arts organisations believe it will take until 2015 to recoup losses in public subsidy through other sources of income, new research has revealed. Meanwhile, a further 30% of organisations do not feel confident enough to predict when full recovery will be possible.

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Unease over fears Ilford's Kenneth More theatre could be closed down

10th November 2011

Rumours about the future of the Kenneth More Theatre are having a “devastating” effect on staff at the 37-year-old playhouse. Council leader Cllr Keith Prince failed to quash rumours, which emerged at the weekend, that the council plans to close the venue and move amateur dramatic productions to the Sir James Hawkey Hall, Broomfield Road, Woodford Green.

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Nursery plans for former Garrison Theatre in Colchester

10th November 2011

A businessman has been unveiled as the possible new owner of Colchester’s former Garrison Theatre. Tim Fergus, who grew up in Colchester, is planning on turning the site into a nursery and eventually employing up to 25 full-time staff.

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Edinburgh's former Gateway Theatre at risk as student flats plan set for go-ahead

8th November 2011

One of Edinburgh’s oldest theatre buildings is set to be demolished to make way for student flats despite dozens of objections from local residents. Developers want to use the site of the former Gateway Theatre on Elm Row to build a new development to accommodate 155 students. The “high- quality” student accommodation will include a cinema, gym, seminar rooms and communal lounge areas for its residents.

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Streetscape showing the New Cross Empire, London, circa 1905
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