The Theatres Trust News

Thanet council set to buy the Theatre Royal in Margate

kate@theatrestrust.org.uk (kate) — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:41:57 GMT

Thanet Council is to buy the struggling Theatre Royal in Margate. The theatre’s board of trustees took the decision to close its current operations last month. The council is now working with Thanet Leisureforc, to transfer management of the theatre to continue to provide the programme of events for 2012/13.

Shoreditch Town Hall to reopen as an arts centre

kate@theatrestrust.org.uk (kate) — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:47:16 GMT

Shoreditch Town Hall, saved from the developers by a community campaign is to open as a giant new arts centre for London. Itl will present its first events next month, before a full programme of theatre and music is launched in the autumn. After a campaign by local residents the Shoreditch Town Hall has been saved and will now be reopened as an arts centre.

Belfast MAC Nice building, but what about the art?

kate@theatrestrust.org.uk (kate) — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:43:19 GMT

Giant furniture, ho-hum paintings, and a curatorial reshuffle: the Mac, Belfast’s ambitious new arts centre, needs a clear direction to go with the bold statements and is Belfast’s Metropolitan Arts Centre, the Mac, a template for arts centres to come? asks the Irish Times.

Curtain up on a dramatic project for Plymouth Theatre Royal

kate@theatrestrust.org.uk (kate) — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:04:35 GMT

The Theatre Royal Plymouth has just celebrated 30 years of staging – and producing – top quality drama, musicals, opera, ballet and dance. Su Carroll spoke to Chief Executive Adrian Vinken OBE about winning a global reputation for excellence and their future plans.

Red Rose Chain gets £1m to build new Ipswich theatre

kate@theatrestrust.org.uk (kate) — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:16:53 GMT

The Red Rose Chain, an independent theatre company has received nearly £1million of funding thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). They will use the £968,300 cash injection to build a brand new theatre and heritage centre at the company’s home at Gippeswyk Hall situated on the corner of Birkfield Drive and Gippeswyk Avenue in Ipswich.

Leeds Arena - a bravura performance

kate@theatrestrust.org.uk (kate) — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:09:28 GMT

Steel-frame construction has enabled Populous and Arup to deliver the complex geometries of their Leeds Arena to a tight budget. Leeds Arena will be the UK’s first “supertheatre”, according to its architect, Populous. Under construction on a tight city centre site, the 12,300-seat venue will host both music and sports events and feature a distinctive cranked and faceted steel-framed form.

Derby Theatre starts planning for a bright future after cash boost

kate@theatrestrust.org.uk (kate) — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:16:01 GMT

Derby Theatre believes it can look forward to a bright future with Arts Council funding secured and a major refurbishment under way. An £80,000 upgrade of the main auditorium is scheduled for the summer break and by the time the autumn season starts, a new artistic leader should be in place with £300,000 to spend on Derby-made shows – the first tranche of Arts Council cash.

Bid to reinvent Darlington Arts Centre under private-public partnership plan

kate@theatrestrust.org.uk (kate) — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:23:24 GMT

New private sector plans could transform Darlington Arts Centre into a boutique hotel and space for cultural organisations including Theatre Hullabaloo. Darlington Borough Council announced plans at the end of last year to close and sell the arts centre and “use the proceeds from the sale for investment in a new performance venue in the town centre”.

Southwark Playhouse to retain London Bridge HQ

kate@theatrestrust.org.uk (kate) — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:19:17 GMT

Southwark Playhouse has secured its place in the London Bridge station redevelopment when it is finished in 2018, allaying fears that the company would be homeless after the building project. Network Rail has now committed to giving the venue a 1,000 square metre space within the development.

Support drops for public funding of the arts

kate@theatrestrust.org.uk (kate) — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:14:30 GMT

Public support for government funding of the arts has fallen significantly during the recession, according to research published by Arts Council England.