Exeter Northcott theatre put into administration
EXETER’S main theatre is facing a bleak future following the shock announcement that it has gone into administration.
Just over two years since the Echo’s Save Our Northcott campaign saw readers force the Arts Council to reinstate crucial funding to avoid closure, trustees delivered the bombshell yesterday that the theatre was now insolvent. As a result they said they had no alternative but to place it into administration. The theatre employs 80 full and part-time staff.
The news has devastated long-term backers of the theatre who have blamed the financial mess on its artistic programme and the loss of its main car park that has seen attendances at shows plummet.
The theatre hopes to complete its spring programme, but anyone who has already bought a ticket is now an “unsecured creditor” meaning they will not be automatically entitled to a refund if shows are cancelled.
In a desperate bid to salvage a future for the theatre that has been a mainstay of the city’s cultural life for more than four decades, Exeter City Council and the University of Exeter have “agreed to explore with the administrator ways of continuing to use it as an arts venue for local people”.
They were among various organisations who contributed to a £2.1 million refurbishment of the theatre in 2007 and provide annual grants towards its operating costs. Yesterday, the city council was due to meet to award an annual grant of £85,000 to the theatre. It is not clear what impact the news will have on that decision.
Chairman of trustees Geoff Myers said: “We took this decision with a heavy heart, but when presented with the latest financial information we had no choice but to place the theatre into administration.
“It is to be hoped that a way can be found to effect a rescue of the theatre. In the meantime I would encourage theatre-goers to continue to support the Exeter Northcott in the knowledge that those who book their tickets while the company is in administration will, in the event of any performances being cancelled, be issued with a full refund. I have been greatly encouraged by the response of stakeholders, who have agreed to do all they can to ensure the theatre continues in some way as a performance venue.”
Ian Walker of Begbies Traynor in Exeter has been appointed as joint administrator. He said: “In the short term is it our intention to try to ensure that all performances in the spring programme can continue and announcements will be made in the press and on the Exeter Northcott website as soon as possible.
“In the longer term I believe it is important to ensure a theatre can be maintained in Exeter and I intend to hold discussions with all existing and possibly new stakeholders at the earliest opportunity.”
Regarding ticket sales, he said: “Anyone that has purchased tickets prior to today is unfortunately an unsecured creditor of the company.
“However, if we are able to ensure that productions do take place as planned, it is hoped that all existing obligations to ticket holders will be honoured. If it is not possible for any productions to take place, details will be posted on the theatre’s website and existing ticket holders will be unsecured creditors of the company. In practice, it is likely that most people will be covered by credit card guarantees in any event.
“It is vitally important that members of the public do continue to support the theatre as without such support the theatre will not survive. Any tickets that are purchased from today will, in effect, be protected and, in the event that a production does not take place, such ticket holders will receive a refund.”
A spokesman for Arts Council England said: “We are disappointed that the decision has been taken to place the Northcott theatre into administration at this point.
“We have been working with the new management over the last two years to broaden the theatre’s programming and increase its audiences.
“Despite this hard work, a legacy of financial problems has recently come to light. The Arts Council has been working with the Northcott’s new management to understand the extent of these problems but this work is not yet complete.”
Philip Bostock, the chief executive of Exeter City Council, said the authority would play an active role in any discussions to look at a way forward for the Northcott and said he was “wholly committed to the arts and the provision of high-quality theatre for the city”.
Drama professor Nick Kaye, of the University of Exeter, said: “The theatre is a high-quality venue and will continue to be made available for public performances. We will work with the other stakeholders to try to find a sustainable model to continue providing artistic events there.”
The Northcott was built on the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus in 1967. It is run as an entirely separate organisation from the university, with its own board of trustees.
Recently, due to university redevelopment, the car park closest to the theatre was shut.
Cllr Ruth Smith, deputy Lord Mayor of Exeter and a long-time supporter of the Northcott, said: “I am absolutely devastated and I just can not believe it. I had not heard the news and it comes as an awful shock. I thought we had done everything that was possible.
“On the other hand I have recently been a little concerned about some things. I do think the previous director actually put on performances that the public liked and, while we do need new works, we have got to fill the seats. I actually remember the beginnings of the Northcott and saw some of the early plays when Tony Church was the director and followed it through the years. The pantomimes have been absolutely brilliant and there have been some brilliant performances. I think the actual taking away of the car park been the death knell.
“After all the money that has gone in for it now to be in administration is just devastating for the city of Exeter.
“It was unique, intimate and had a special ambience and it will be a great loss. I cannot see in the immediate future any likelihood for any theatre in centre of Exeter, it will just not be viable.
“I am going to the Northcott for a production shortly and it will feel like going to a funeral.”
Annemarie MacDonald, the marketing director for Theatre Alibi that is putting on 10 performances of the adaptation of Graham Greene’s The Ministry of Fear at the Exeter Northcott from tonight, said: “The show runs until next Saturday and will definitely be going ahead.
“We have more than 3,500 coming already out of potential 4,664 tickets, so have sold more than three quarters of the tickets already. If people want to support the theatre the best thing they can do is come and see the show.
“It is obviously a hugely difficult time for all the staff at the Northcott but they are giving us a lot of support. They are obviously upset but some are actually feeling it could be an opportunity to present another kind of Northcott. But we are very proud to be working with them and they are giving fantastic help.”
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by Dan, London
Monday, March 01 2010, 9:11AM
“As someone who has peformed in most of the venues Exeter has to offer, although it pains me to say it I feel that a city centre theatre is just not commercially viable. The cost of building a modern, state-of-the-art theatre alone prevent this. I can't see any developer willing to give up the revenue from turning the old Debenhams into shops/flats to build a theatre there. And there is no guarantee it would bring in the crowds anyway. The old Exeter Theatre Royal didn't and it was only 100 metres away from that site. The only way it could make money is if it could attract the big musicals in and that would mean a lot of money spent on things like a revolving stage. The sad truth is that the South West is a bit of a cultural backwater. People simply don't care enough about drama to make any theatre a decent prospect.
And a word on the programme, it is the curse of dramatists everywhere that they constantly have to fight a battle between putting on good drama and giving people what they want. People may want to see pantomime and musicals like Grease, but no theatre wants to be stuck with just them and their type over and over.
Amateur dramatics in Exeter is suffering from a complete lack of decent venues for hire. The Northcott and Barnfield are both now pricing themselves out of the amateur market and venues such as the phoenix are not set up for a tech heavy show. Even the high schools are massively overpriced for what you are getting.
All in all the future looks fairly bleak for the arts in Exeter, but what is sadder is that the bulk of the population of Exeter won't care.”
by Anthony, Exeter
Sunday, February 28 2010, 7:07PM
“Only two years from a major re-organisation and a public battle to obtain Arts council funding? What incompetents are running the place? lets name names so the individuals can't screw up another theatre and have a proper clear-out right from the top. It's the same with the university. Where is the joined up thinking that moves the car park to the furthest part of the campus.”
by Ken Stewart, Exeter
Saturday, February 27 2010, 7:44PM
“The Barnfield theatre was originally (1954) supplied as an Amdram theatre. In recent years the council has abrogated that agreement and the theatre is now out of the price range of most amdram companies. However the site is a very valuable one and if sold could supply most of the cash needed to build a theatre in town( Debenhams?).
The Northcott could then be given over to amdram where there will be low overheads and simpler productions. Exeter needs a theatre. I object to having to travel 42v miles to Plynouth ro see a decent show. The programme at the new theatre, if it is properly designed with the latest in stage equipment (including digital technology), can be a success. The poor old Northcott never had a chance. Apart from being badly managed its situation was impossible. Too far from the city centre and impossible to find and park. The new venue could also take over the responsibility for the Great Hall audiences (another badly placed venue). It is startlingly obvious to anyone who knows Exeter and its theatrical needs. Only the local authority never seems to 'get it'.”
by Dave, exeter
Saturday, February 27 2010, 7:29PM
“Too far from the city and public transport. No parking space. Too much high-brow stuff and not enough popular entertainment. No wonder people travel to Plymouth for the Pavillions and Theatre Royal, or Bristol for the Hippodrome, or Torquay for the Princess or Cardiff for the CIA.
We need a good city centre venue to rival these places. But no doubt the decision makers will stick to the belief that the Nothcott has folded so there is no demand in Exeter.”
by Ian, Exeter
Saturday, February 27 2010, 6:28PM
“Debenhams Theatre Royal anyone ?”
by Tomred, Exeter.
Saturday, February 27 2010, 2:43PM
“It is sad to hear of the demise of any cultural facility. Is this another step to removing the title of 'County Town' from Exeter to Plymouth?”
by James, Exeter
Saturday, February 27 2010, 2:38PM
“How ironic is it that the Arts Council are now finding money to ensure Theatre Alibi's show continues at the Northcott. Was it not the Arts Councils intervention a few years ago which brought about the strange programming policy at the theatre which was intended to appeal to a wider audience and in fact has appealed to no-one? Added to the parking problem and the most lack lustre pantomime the theatre has presented for a long time many of us are suprised it has taken so long to reach this all time low for the theatre. Now doubt any day now the recession will be blamed for poor houses, difficult to substantiate in the light of London's west end having its most succssful year for a long time. The Northcott's problems are within, not with the audience.”
by Em, Exeter
Saturday, February 27 2010, 2:15PM
“This really is no surprise but everyone seems to be missing the real story - just look at some of the quotes in this story:
"I have recently been a little concerned about some things" (Cllr Ruth Smith),
"a legacy of financial problems has recently come to light." (Arts Council)
So where has all the money gone? How has it got to this stage? Who is culpable?
Is anyone asking these questions? People deserve answers.”
by Jo, Exeter
Saturday, February 27 2010, 12:01PM
“The theatre (not the staff) has always come over as unwelcoming. The design and the boring maintstream programme always catered to the "grey hairs". Now these "grey hairs" are those who, 20 or so years ago, were made to feel unwelcome by the design of the place and the boring mainstream programme and so it goes on. A theatre where you have to fight your way through the passage known as a reception area to get to the box office as far away as possible? That's if you can get through the queue for the ladies loos. Then you queue for food and drink before you settle down to watch something your mother might have enjoyed decades ago. Have always enjoyed Theatre Alibi but the whole theatre going experience at the Northcott is not pleasant - and now you can't even park nearby. What a shamebthat it's preferable to go to Bristol or Plymouth.”
by Shiona, N.Devon
Saturday, February 27 2010, 10:20AM
“I hated Ben Crocker's programme and the endless am dram rubbish and revivals of the same old plays and shows which lacked quality and did nothing to develop theatre or theatre going audiences.
I'm not impressed with the current season and haven't enjoyed all the things i've seen there. But it's a massive improvement on the previous direciton for the theatre.
The problem is the balance between mainstream programming, supporting community work and bringing in high quality, boundary pushing theatre.
The Northcott needs a studio space, like the Theatre Royal has the Drum, because in there would be the opportunity to see challenging new work and small - mid scale pieces that just don't fit in the main house.
The new approach has not been given enough time or investment and was bound to fail sadly.
Desperately sorry for all the current staff and Exeter as a whole. We deserve better.”