The Stage

Bidders come forward to rescue Ayr’s Gaiety Theatre

Published Tuesday 20 January 2009 at 16:25 by Lalayn Baluch

Hopes have risen that one of Scotland’s oldest theatres will stave off permanent closure when it goes dark at the end of the month, following bids from four parties hoping to save the beleaguered venue.

Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre - along with two other unnamed bidders - is vying to take over Ayr’s 106-year-old Gaiety Theatre on a commercial basis, while Ayrshire Arts Network hopes to help establish a trust to protect the venue.

The news emerged during a meeting organised by AAN to discuss the future of the Grade II-listed theatre, which was attended by 500 supporters including Theatres Trust trustee Ben Twist, representatives of Equity and performer Johnny Beattie.

Campaigners fear that the Gaiety will remain dark after it is closed on January 31 by South Ayrshire Council so that it can “examine the long-term repair” of the building. The council claims that necessary refurbishment work will cost £4.5 million.

Pavilion general manager Iain Gordon told The Stage: “Our idea would be to take it on from the council, and with their help with funding, we would integrate and run the two venues together. We would use the same equipment and costumes for pantos, use the Pavilion box office as a ticket centre, and transfer our in-house comedy shows to the Gaiety. That would cut the cost of running them commercially.

“There’s not £4.5 million worth of work - my feeling is that you can bring it up to today’s standards for a quarter of that money. We would do enough work to pass inspections and make it acceptable to the public. In the meantime, plan events and a panto, get some income in and then start to look at Lottery funding to try and do some of the major work.”

Gordon is calling on the council to make a final decision by February 2. He added: “I don’t think they can justify shutting it if there is someone saying they will take it over at a fraction of the cost.”

Meanwhile, AAN chair Caroline Lorimer explained that local campaigners are interested in creating a trust, which would assist in appointing a management company and would launch an external fundraising campaign to raise the money to upgrade the building.

A council spokesperson said: “[We] would expect a paper to council on key next steps as soon as is practicable. All options are being kept open, from a commercial deal to a community trust model.”