Dale quits as Harlow Playhouse manager after last year’s suspension

Published Tuesday 22 January 2008 at 13:50 by Lalayn Baluch

Harlow Playhouse general manager Philip Dale has resigned from his post “by mutual agreement” with the local council, following his suspension from the theatre last year.

After six years as manager at the Essex venue, Dale will be winding up the Playhouse Theatre Company and Theatre School, a youth project that he helped to establish. According to the local authority, he is leaving to set up a training venture located at nearby Burnt Mill School.

Harlow Council’s strategic director Graham Branchett said: “We wish Phil success in his new venture with the Phoenix Theatre School. He will be continuing with the council until the end of January to see out his commitments with the pantomime.

“We’ll be looking to recruit to his post immediately and this role will work alongside the new leisure manager to ensure the success of the Playhouse. A full programme of events is already in place for the spring and will go ahead as usual.”

The future of the Essex theatre has been in question since last September, when the local authority disclosed the venue had overspent by approximately £70,000 against its 2006/7 budget. The previous year it was over budget by £90,000.

Figures revealed excess spending on utility bills of £14,000, with £18,000 lost on hired events, and employee-related costs £9,000 above target. The theatre’s catering operation had a profit shortfall of £14,000 and the marketing department had an overspend of £10,000.

Following the announcement, Dale was suspended, although the council has never confirmed why, prompting former Playhouse manager Laurence Sach to accuse the local council of a “calculated and malicious” attempt to set the venue on the path of closure.

The local authority began recruitment for Dale’s replacement last week. A new community leisure manager, who will run a number of leisure facilities including in the Playhouse, is scheduled to start work at the beginning of February.

A council spokesman added: “This will strengthen the management team that will continue to commission high quality theatre and arts productions. The Playhouse Supporters’ Club and Charitable Trust will continue to be run by volunteers and trustees respectively.”