The Stage

CCE loses Wyvern to Hetherington Seelig

Published Tuesday 17 February 2004 at 14:35 by Ruth Gillespie

Regional giant Clear Channel Entertainment has failed to renew its ten year contract to manage the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, losing out to rival Hetherington Seelig Theatres.

CCE has managed the 617-seat venue since October 2000 when it bought out American company SFX. It completed the last part of a ten year contract for the Wyvern that was originally awarded to Apollo Leisure in 1994 and passed to SFX when it acquired Apollo in 1999.

The company - which owns or manages 22 other regional venues, four of the largest West End theatres and has a joint control of the Point in Dublin - was expected to win the battle for the Wyvern. Of its two declared competitors, Really Useful Theatres was making its first foray into regional management while Hetherington Seelig managed just one theatre, the Wycombe Swan.

A decision on the bids had been expected in December but when this was delayed first until January and later till February, it became clear that a CCE victory was no longer certain.

Michael Ockwell, who led the successful bid for HST, said: “We are delighted with the decision and look forward to working in partnership with Swindon Borough Council and the thriving artistic community here to provide a theatre that fulfils the aspirations of the people it serves.

“I think the council looked at the kind of community work we deliver at our other venue, the Wycombe Swan, and decided that was the kind of thing they wanted to achieve at the Wyvern.”

Ockwell, who will take on the role of theatre director at both venues, added that the majority of front line and backstage staff would be transferred into the new contract and revealed plans to recruit three extra box office staff, a general manager and a community and education officer.

HST was established more than 15 years ago when it took control of the Beck Theatre in Hayes - now run by CCE - from producer Charles Vance. In 1992 it won the ten-year contract for the Wycombe Swan and last year beat competition from CCE and Ambassador Theatre Group to secure its second tenure of the theatre.

However, Ockwell has denied claims that the company intends to expand its presence in the regions. He said: “We are not interested in becoming an ATG or a CCE. We simply recognised the opportunity to work with a particular venue to develop community relations there.”

The theatre is expected to play a central role in delivering the council’s ten year cultural strategy to develop arts throughout the borough, with plans to forge partnerships with organisations such as the Swindon National Dance Agency.

Mike Bawden, leader of the council, said: “The tendering process has been a long and complex one but I believe we have reached a good decision for Swindon.”

HST is expected to take over the management of the Wyvern Theatre from April, although programming commitments scheduled by CCE will be honoured until the new company is in a position to take over planning in September. According to one informed source, CCE has requested an extension to its management contract until June to oversee the implementation of its programme and to allow sufficient time to move out of the building.

David Ian, managing director of CCE Europe, added: “We are very proud of our achievements during the last three years and are obviously disappointed that we will no longer be managing the Wyvern Theatre. However, we are delighted that we will still be able to present our exciting new initiative, Stagefest, to the community of Swindon and beyond throughout March. CCE wishes the theatre continued success in the future.”