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Theatre Buildings at Risk Register 2009 Announced
The Theatres Trust, the National Advisory Public Body for Theatres, publishes its 2009 Theatre Buildings at Risk Register (TBAR) today. The top ten include the threatened Opera House in Blackpool, and Derby Hippodrome, whose owner is being prosecuted by Derby City Council. A total of 82 theatres are covered in the Register.
The Trust's TBAR Register highlights theatres that have been abandoned and those suffering neglect under the hands of their owners. But it also highlights the efforts of groups across the country who are working to rescue theatres, such as the Tivoli in Aberdeen, the Theatre Royal Hyde, and the Doncaster Grand.
The Register also provides good news. Whilst 13 theatres were added this year, 11 have been removed. From the 2008 top ten, two have been downgraded. Wilton's Music Hall is now talking to the National Trust about the future of this historic Grade II* East London theatre, and Sussex University has announced plans for the refurbishment of the Gardner Arts Centre.
Theatres Trust director, Mhora Samuel said: "The Trust exists to promote the better protection of theatres. Each year we publish the Theatres Buildings at Risk Register to raise awareness of the threats facing theatres. Some of our most architecturally significant theatres still lie abandoned or are under threat from redevelopment. Many could come back to life as theatres or become cultural centres for local communities. We must do everything we can to make local authorities and owners aware of their responsibilities. The Trust's aim is to prevent the loss of theatres, such as Glasgow's Coliseum which was lost in a fire in May and had to be demolished."
The Theatre Buildings at Risk Register can be searched online at www.theatrestrust.org.uk. It covers 71 theatre buildings in England, four in Scotland and seven in Wales. More information on each theatre is provided through a link to the Trust's Theatres database, which includes around 2,000 existing theatres. Each top ten entry has a downloadable information sheet.
The 2009 Top Theatre Buildings at Risk England - Top Ten:
Winter Gardens complex (Opera House), Blackpool (Grade II*)
Swindon Mechanics Institute (Grade II*)
Plymouth Palace (Grade II*)
Brighton Hippodrome (Grade II*)
Derby Hippodrome (Grade II)
Burnley Empire (Grade II)
Doncaster Grand (Grade II)
Hulme Hippodrome and Playhouse, Manchester (both Grade II)
Stockton-on-Tees, Globe Theatre (Grade II)
Theatre Royal, Hyde (Grade II)
Scotland:
Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen (Category A)
Odeon/New Victoria, Edinburgh (Category B)
Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh (Category C(s))
Wales:
Patti Theatre, Craig-y-Nos (Grade I)
Gwyn Hall, Neath (Grade II)
Palace Theatre, Swansea (Grade II)
Theatr Gwynedd, Bangor (not listed)
24th June 2009
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