The Stage

Derby Playhouse to reopen for Treasure Island run

Published Friday 7 December 2007 at 12:25 by Lalayn Baluch

Derby Playhouse is to reopen on December 8 for the run of its Christmas show, the venue’s insolvency practitioner has announced.

This latest turn of events follows the announcement earlier this week that Tenon Recovery had taken over the administration of the theatre, after it was put into voluntary liquidation by the Playhouse board of trustees.

Dilip Dattani, a director of Tenon Recovery and joint administrator of the theatre, commented: “The reopening of the theatre will be welcomed by the community of Derby who have recently protested for the theatre to reopen.

“The decision to reopen the theatre was made by the administrators, who stated that they are open minded on any viable proposal to rescue the company and enable the audience to see the shows they had booked tickets [for].”

The venue will be kept open so that audiences who booked tickets for Treasure Island - which took £200,000 in advanced sales - would be able to watch the show until the end of its run on January 26.

However, the long-term future of the theatre is dependent upon money being raised by a consortium led by Michael Hall and Jonathan Power, as well as the submission of a “robust” business plan.

Dattani said: “The consortium are attempting to secure the long-term funding for the theatre and examining all operational and financial aspects - types of shows to be offered, staffing levels and overheads. The theatre will continue to be registered as a charity and will seek to offer to the community of Derby performances of a high quality with their interest and entertainment needs in mind.”

He added that Tenon Recovery are to write to all creditors of the Playhouse to invite them to a meeting to vote on the future of the theatre.

Meanwhile, customers who hold tickets for Treasure Island after Saturday will be able to see the show, but those who held tickets for performances since the theatre closed on November 30 will need to claim a refund from Tenon Recovery.