Two northern venues added to Theatres at Risk register

Barrow Forum - joins the Theatres at Risk register

Preston Guild Hall and The Forum in Barrow-in-Furness have today joined the Theatre Trust's Theatres at Risk Register.

The Guild Hall is the only professional theatre in the city and has been closed since 2019, initially due to legal disputes and more recently to the discovery of crumbling concrete in the roof of the Great Hall and Chapter Theatre.

The Forum closed due to the presence of asbestos, both in the theatre and the connected building, which has led to proposals for demolition. With no plan for a replacement, this would leave Barrow without a theatre. Both the Guild Hall and Forum are local

authority-owned theatres built in the 1970s.

Preston Guild Hall - another 1970s building added to the list of theatres at risk

Other northern theatres that remain on the list from previous years include: Blackpool Winter Gardens Pavilion; Burnley Empire; Joe Longthorne Pavilion, North Pier, Blackpool; Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre; Winter Gardens Morecambe; Co-op Hall, Ramsbottom; Conwy Civic Hall (Cube); Doncaster Grand; Garrick Theatre, Southport; Hulme Hippodrome, Manchester; Tameside Theatre, Ashton-under-Lyne; Theatre Royal, Manchester, and the Victoria Theatre, Salford.

In its 50th anniversary year, the Theatres Trust is marking the 20th year of the Theatres at Risk

Register. This year's register lists 39 theatres across the UK under threat of closure, redevelopment or severe decay, which all have the potential to be revived for their local communities with the right support.

:: First launched in 2006, the Theatres at Risk register notes theatres under threat and helps to galvanise support for securing their future. Over two decades, this campaign has played a leading role in raising awareness, building partnerships and supporting the revival of important cultural assets in communities across the country.

During this time more than 80 theatres have been restored and revived, or suitable replacements built. Notable success stories include Bradford Live, Stockton Globe, Walthamstow Granada and Wilton’s Music Hall.

Joshua McTaggart, CEO of the Theatres Trust, said: "Sadly, these buildings are just the tip of the iceberg, and we are beginning to identify a potential trend for theatres built in the 1970s, that are now facing a higher likelihood of challenges that could lead to long-term or even permanent closure.

"Without sustained long-term support for theatres at the local, regional, and national level, we could see many more theatres from the 1970s added to our register. This is a future we want to confidently avoid, and so Theatres Trust urges theatre owners, operators and local authorities to reach out to us before concerns become crises."

More info here