Bid for new city centre theatre
A NEW campaign has been launched to establish a theatre and concert hall in the centre of Exeter.
It comes as a one-day exhibition has marked the 50th anniversary of the closure of Exeter's much-loved Theatre Royal.
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Theatre historian and author Dick Passmore (inset), who staged the event at Exeter's Guildhall, said the exhibition had been a big success.
"Around 750 people attended, and just after we opened they were queuing to come in," he said.
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"It proved there is still a tremendous interest in the former theatre. More than 300 people have signed a petition to say they would like to see a central theatre and concert hall in the city.
"Several people expressed the need to form a steering group to lobby for a new theatre, so we may need to consider that.
"We are still adding up the signatures and will be creating a website.
"The aim will be to present the city council with the petition to show the support and strength of feeling for such a theatre in the centre of the city.
"The petition asked: Do you want a theatre back in the centre of Exeter?
"Some people say Exeter could not support a city centre theatre but Plymouth and Torquay seem to manage, so why not Exeter?
"Most theatres in the country are backed by a sponsor, so that is what we would look for.
"I think we must be talking about £30m to £40m, with something like 50 per cent from the Heritage Lottery Fund and 50 per cent sponsorship. It would have to be in the city centre so tourists could see where it was and use it."
Mr Passmore added that Echo reports of Portland House, which stands on the site of the old Theatre Royal at the junction of Longbrook Street and New North Road, becoming student accommodation added impetus to the campaign for a new theatre in the city centre.
The theatre was open for more than 70 years. But in the 1950s profits started to fall with a loss of £6,500 in 1960. It closed less than two years later.
Local benefactor George Northcott offered a total of £100,000 to buy the building and create a cultural centre alongside a refurbished theatre. His various offers were declined and the building was eventually sold to The Prudential Assurance Company for £85,000, giving a return to shareholders.
Northcott later invested his money into a building on the university campus.
A city council spokesman said: "A new theatre is simply un-affordable, very likely to be unviable once built and could put other theatres at risk. It is important to support the venues we have in order that they are able to continue to survive and provide the wide range of performances and entertainment that they do."
Comments
by Susanna
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 2:08PM
“Please please let us have a good large theatre in Exeter, one which will bring in audiences to watch good West End travelling shows and musicals and big concerts. We really need it. We have small, rather amateur theatres at the moment, or the Northcott which has been providing pretty average if not outright poor choices of plays for years and years - no wonder if nearly went into administration. A good theatre will bring in huge audiences, and will pay its way very quickly. It is too far for most people to go to Bristol or Plymouth (or even Torquay) to watch something special. We don't even need it in the centre of the town - what about the plot just waiting to have something built on it, on the corner of the big roundabout near the Devon Record Office/Ashfords/Park and Ride. It could have a restaurant and even little shops nearby and is right near Junction 29 - easy to get to and plenty of parking available nearby or even on the plot itself. Please think outside the box and make Exeter a city of not just shops - bring some culture to our lovely centre....”
by MarkEmark1234
Thursday, September 27 2012, 12:27PM
“Theatre in Exeter is rubbish and we have to travel away to see half-decent shows. What Exeter needs is one large theatre for the big shows, concerts, etc, then maybe a couple of smaller venues for the smaller shows / acts / concerts.”