The Stage

Christmas runs on at Derby Playhouse

Published Monday 7 January 2008 at 11:35 by Lalayn Baluch

Derby Playhouse has extended the run of its Christmas show, Treasure Island, by eight extra performances.

The production, which was originally due to close on January 26, will now run until February 2.

The new dates replace the performances lost when the theatre was closed for a week in December, after the theatre company went into liquidation. It was subsequently reopened by its administrator, Tenon Recovery.

Karen Hebden, chief executive of Derby Playhouse in administration, said: “We’ve had a tremendous response to the show, and this extra week gives us an opportunity to welcome even more families to the Playhouse over the coming month.

“Although we are extending the run, we are actually only replacing those performances lost when the theatre was closed from November 30 to December 7. This new week gives those people who booked for the cancelled performances, but have been unable to attend an alternative show, an extra week to exchange their tickets.”

Meanwhile, two former Playhouse chairmen, Jonathan Power and Michael Hall, are leading a bid to take over the management of the troubled venue. The plan is backed by the theatre’s former chief executive Karen Hebden and artistic director Stephen Edwards.