The Stage

Manchester City Council considering new home for Library Theatre Company

Published Friday 16 October 2009 at 17:36 by Lalayn Baluch

Manchester City Council has confirmed it is considering the city’s 164-year-old Theatre Royal building as the new base for the Library Theatre Company.

In June, The Stage revealed that the company had entered into discussions with the council about the idea of moving into the building – which has not been used as a theatre for 88 years.

While a number of options had been explored, including partnerships with educational institutions such as Manchester Metropolitan University and a site in the city’s northern quarter, the Library Theatre Company announced the Theatre Royal as its preferred option.

The company has been based in the former lecture hall of the city’s Central Library since it was established in 1952, but for some years has been exploring the prospect of moving to another site.

Now, the local authority has said that it believes the Grade II-listed building is the “best solution” as the future home of the company.

Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council executive member for culture and leisure, said: “The benefits of this proposed relocation are manifold and will have a significant, positive effect on the cultural life of the city.

“The Theatre Royal – a piece of Manchester’s history – would offer a great opportunity for the Library Theatre Company to develop and expand both its range of performances and its valuable community and education work, while also opening up this Grade II listed building and returning the oldest theatre in Manchester to its former glory. We’re excited by the proposals.”

The proposed move is part of an £155 million scheme to transform Manchester’s Town Hall Complex, including Central Library and the Town Hall extension.

Refurbishment work on the Town Hall Complex will start next year and the whole project will last up to five years.

The Central Library is due to close temporarily next summer and if the plans to fully restore the Theatre Royal go ahead, the Library Theatre will perform at venues around the city in the interim, until it can move into the venue.