Plans for new producing theatre in Derby revealed as Playhouse reaches crisis point

Published Tuesday 19 February 2008 at 16:15 by Lalayn Baluch

Plans to build a new producing theatre in Derby are being considered by the city council in the wake of the financial crisis that has hit the Playhouse.

The venue could be forced to close for good next week as administrators have admitted the rescue bid launched by the board of trustees is in increasing dire straits.

They confirmed that the board are “still in the frame”, but they are welcoming offers from other interested parties who wish to take over the theatre.

According to Dilip Dattani, a director at Tenon Recovery who took over the administration of the Playhouse last November, a handful of organisations are in negotiations over the theatre and are set to submit bids before a creditors meeting on Monday (February 25).

Alan Graves, Derby City Council cabinet member for leisure and direct services, revealed to The Stage the local authority’s plans to bring producing theatre back to the region.

He said: “Maybe sometime in the future we can think of building another purpose-built theatre. We’ve got some space on the other side of the river, which is being developed, and was something that was discussed a while ago. I think it could be a possibility.”

No timescale for the building plan has been established. The local authority is set to put in an offer for the assets of the Playhouse - which it needs for its recently announced cultural programme.

Graves said: “Provided the administrator accepts that offer then we can take it over intact. If it is not and they sell it off on the open market, then we may have a problem. I desperately need them to accept our offer or it will set us back considerably, because we would have to buy new equipment and we are not awash with money.”

He added that he felt it would be “obstructive” to the local authority’s plans if the Playhouse board was successful in its bid.

Last week, the council announced it was planning to resurrect producing theatre in the city with a new programme called Derby Live, bringing together theatre, dance, music, poetry and mime, by professional and amateur performers.

Sites used will include the Assembly Rooms, Guildhall Theatre and open spaces across the city. If Derby Playhouse Limited does not succeed in coming out of administration, the council will also use the playhouse’s two venues for presenting shows.

Council officers are currently leading the project, but a spokesman said they are urgently looking to appoint someone to head the artistic programming, although they are yet to decide if this will be an internal appointment or industry professional.

Derby Live will be funded in 2008/9 by £395,275 from the local authority and £742,810 from Arts Council England. ACE has also committed a further £762,865 and £783,460 in the following two years, after its decision to stop subsidising the Playhouse.

The plans have been criticised by Playhouse chair Jonathan Powers, who believes they have “no substance”. He has also complained that a show by the Chinese National Ballet announced in the council’s cultural line-up, had already been programmed by the theatre’s staff.