Margate’s jewel

Published Tuesday 27 March 2007 at 15:50

It is inconceivable to think that Margate Theatre Royal, the second oldest theatre in the country, built in 1787, in which actors including Macready, Ellen Tiernan, Charlie Chaplin, Gordon Craig, George Arliss and more recently Dame Judi Dench and Rodney Bewes have appeared, should have its stage drastically altered and, under the control of Thanet District Council, operate as a theatre for only six weeks of the year. I have acted on the stage on several occasions and been a frequent member of the audience and it is a jewel, with a unique atmosphere.

Under the present management, it opens 52 weeks of the year, hosting professional touring companies, varied music concerts, amateur productions and local dance school performances - what a loss to the community if it ceased to operate in its present form. Audiences have built up steadily over the last few years, proving how important it has become.

The theatre’s general manager, Michael Wheatley-Ward, applied for £50,000 from the Arts Council and £50,000 from Thanet District Council to keep it running as it is for this year, a very small amount at the side of the hundreds of thousands they will have to find if they take it over and run it themselves.

It is proposed to have only six weeks of the year for theatre productions and then use it for ‘community projects’ the rest of the time.

Why could the council not find their share of the money? There is no logic in this (unless there is a hidden agenda).

We cannot let it happen.

Anthea Preston

Mickleburgh Hill

Herne bay

Kent