Theatre Buildings at Risk Register 2013 Announced

Theatre Buildings at Risk Register 2013 Announced

LONDON, September 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --





The awe-inspiring Brighton Hippodrome, a magnificent Grade II* listed variety/circus
theatre, and the Grade II listed Swansea Palace, top the Theatre Buildings at Risk
Register 2013 being launched at the Coronet, Elephant and Castle in London on 19
September.



48 theatres feature on Register 2013, published by national advisory public body, The
Theatres Trust. Compared to last year there are ten new theatres at risk, seven theatres
have been saved, but four have been lost forever.



Penelope Keith CBE DL, Theatres Trust Trustee, said, "More has to be done to protect
theatres under threat. The Trust is particularly concerned about the future of Brighton
Hippodrome. Plans for the cinema conversion come close to heritage destruction of a Grade
II* listed building - and there will be little chance of this wonderful theatre ever being
used again for live performance."



For the first time the Trust is publishing the Risk Value associated with each
theatre. These provide an assessment of the current risks faced by each building as well
as the theatre's quality and significance. The highest score that can be given is six. In
Register 2013 sixes include the Brighton Hippodrome (Grade II*), Derby Hippodrome (Grade
II), Dudley Hippodrome, Theatre Royal Hyde (Grade II), Alexandra Palace Theatre (Grade
II), Hulme Hippodrome (Grade II), Plymouth Palace (Grade II*), the Futurist in
Scarborough, and Swansea Palace (Grade II). These theatres are either in a critical
physical condition or will be irrevocably altered or demolished.



Theatres rated at five include, Tameside Hippodrome (Grade II), RAF Brampton Little
Theatre, Hulme Playhouse (Grade II), Burnley Empire, Darlington Arts Centre, Hulme
Playhouse (Grade II), Morecambe Winter Gardens (Grade II*) and Victoria Theatre in
Salford.



New additions this year include, the Coronet, Elephant and Castle, London, the Spa
Pavilion in Felixstowe, and the former Theatre Royal in Manchester (Grade II), all on
sites earmarked for redevelopment. A further seven have also come onto the Register, the
Curzon/Redstack Playhouse in Bexhill-on-Sea, the Forest Theatre in Berry Hill near
Coleford, the Odeon/Victoria in Bradford, Theatrebarn in Bretforton, Westovian Theatre
Pier Pavilion in South Shields, The Brewhouse in Taunton and Conwy Civic Hall.



Lost forever are the St Peters Theatre Southsea, the Cochrane Theatre, and the Mermaid
Theatre in London as their local authorities have determined that they are no longer to be
classed as theatres in the Planning system and the land they occupy will be redeveloped.
The site of the Precinct Theatre in Islington, London has also gone for redevelopment,
despite the valiant efforts of campaigners.



Mhora Samuel, Director of The Theatres Trust, said, "We are at risk of losing really
important and historic theatre buildings as a result of neglect, development and
demolition. It's so sad to see theatres treated in this way. Some have been left to rot
and are being destroyed by water damage and rampant Buddleia; others are at the mercy of
developers. Our top theatres at risk include those with special heritage status, but this
is not protecting them. Brighton Hippodrome, Plymouth Palace, Hulme Hippodrome and Swansea
Palace are beautiful theatres that could be reborn in ways that would enable us to
continue to appreciate their full splendour. They deserve to be treated better."



The Theatres Trust is pleased however, to report that seven theatre buildings have
been removed from the Register as their future is secure. Three are in Scotland, and four
in England. They include the Category A Britannia Panopticon in Glasgow, which received
funding for repairs and Margate's Grade II* Theatre Royal which has plans for a capital
redevelopment. Others that have been removed are the New Victoria/Odeon and Leith Theatre,
both in Edinburgh, Stanford Hall Theatre in Stanford-on-Soar, the New Bradford Playhouse,
and the Floral Hall in Hornsea, The Floral Hall is an excellent example of what can be
achieved when a community comes together to campaign to save their local theatre. The
campaigners formed The Floral Hall Community Centre and now own the freehold of the
building.



Each of the top at risk entries has an information sheet and press images, contact
Kate Carmichael press@theatrestrust.org.uk to find out more.



Notes to Editors




1) Launch event: Press are invited to attend the Theatre Buildings at Risk
press launch on 19 September at 11am at the Coronet, London. Contact Kate Carmichael
E: press@theatrestrust.org.uk to find out more.
The event is generously sponsored by Robertson Taylor W&P Longreach, Theatre
Insurance. Thank you to Coronet London for use of its venue and facilities.
2) Theatre Buildings at Risk Register: The Theatre Buildings at Risk (TBAR)
Register, created in 2007, is published annually and has significantly helped to raise
public awareness of theatres that are under threat, lie abandoned or close The
Theatres Trust gives these theatres a voice through its Theatre Buildings at Risk
Register.
3) The Theatre Buildings at Risk 2013 Register can be searched online. More
information on each theatre is provided through a link to the Trust's online Theatres
Database, which includes around 2,000 existing theatre buildings. theatrestrust.org.uk
[http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk ]
2012 - 49 on TBAR 38 England; 5 Scotland; 6 Wales
2011 - 56 on TBAR 41 England; 7 Scotland; 8 Wales
2010 - 55 on TBAR 43 England; 7 Scotland; 5 Wales
4) Risk Values: For the first time we are publishing the Risk Values associated
with each theatre. Each theatre on The Theatres Trust's Theatre Buildings at Risk
Register is assessed and given a 'Risk rating' of 0-3 depending on the number of
high, medium or low levels of risk identified for each theatre against certain risk
criteria. A further 'Star rating' of 0-3 is also applied which makes a qualitative
judgment on the importance of the theatre. The maximum Risk Value a theatre can be
assigned is 6 - and it is these theatres that sit in the top, most at risk theatres
in the UK.
5) About The Theatres Trust: The Theatres Trust is the National Advisory Public
Body for theatres. The Trust was established by The Theatres Trust Act 1976, 'to
promote the better protection of theatres'. It is a statutory consultee on theatre
buildings in the planning system, provides expert advice on the sustainable
development of theatre buildings and helps promote awareness and solutions for
theatres at risk. It champions all theatres, historic, contemporary and new in
theatre use, in other uses or disused. The Theatres Trust's central London
Theatreland-based Resource Centre provides access to a specialist theatre buildings
Reference Library including books and architectural plans.



The Theatres Trust
Protecting theatres for everyone
T: +44(0)20-7836-8591
W: http://theatrestrust.org.uk
@theatrestrust


The Theatres Trust


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