The Stage

Theatres Trust to gain more clout in protecting drama heritage

Published Tuesday 4 November 2008 at 14:20 by Lalayn Baluch

The Theatres Trust is to be given greater involvement in the protection of historic buildings through an amendment to the heritage bill, which could prevent a repetition of incidents such as the partial destruction of Derby Hippodrome.

Under the amendment, which has been recommended by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the organisation will be made a statutory consultee within the Heritage Protection Bill.

This will mean that local authorities and venues will be legally required to consult the Trust when changes are proposed to listed theatres, and could boost the power it has to stop major alterations to buildings such as the Hippodrome.

Mark Price, Theatres Trust planning and architecture advisor, welcomed the news. He said that up until now, the organisation was only consulted on alteration work that required planning permission.

Price explained: “This has been an anomaly for some years. The point is that a listed theatre could be gutted, or have its balcony taken out, and we would not necessarily be consulted, whereas we might be consulted for a flag pole because it requires planning permission. It’s quite ridiculous. This will clear up that loophole.”

He believes that if the recommendation is incorporated into the legislation, the Trust will be more effective in protecting historic theatre buildings, will be better able to provide assistance on redecoration schemes using its stock of 3,000 records and 30,000 images, and advise on controversial cases.

Theatres Trust director Mhora Samuel added: “I’m delighted that the government will be redrafting the Heritage Protection Bill to include the Theatres Trust. As we are already a statutory consultee in the planning system, this decision means that local authorities will also be legally required to consult the Trust on heritage protection decisions affecting listed theatres. It will significantly increase our effectiveness and help us make the case for theatres.”

The proposed amendment was made as part of the DCMS’ response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s report on the draft heritage bill.

It said: “In the case of the Theatres Trust, DCMS has been constructively engaged with them and we agree that there is scope for amendments to the Bill to enable the Theatres Trust to participate more fully in the heritage protection system.

“For example, a number of provisions will be redrafted to ensure that the Theatres Trust is capable of being included as a statutory consultee, in relation to processes and decisions affecting theatre buildings.”