Rescue Plan Rolling for Liverpool's Playhouse
Date: 31 March 1998
Andrew Bentley, the man who managed the £11m refurbishment and re-launch of Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall, has resigned as director there to spearhead the rescue of the city's Playhouse Theatre, Britain's oldest repertory theatre.
The theatre was forced to close by administrators Ernst & Young on 3 January 1998 following mounting losses. Bentley led a successful bid on behalf of Liverpool-based property development company Neptune Developments to rescue the theatre and will be heading up its re-development and management.
Neptune has pledged a substantial sum but is requesting potential donors in the public and private sectors to match its commitment. It is understood that a great deal more funding will be required. Neptune is now in negotiations with Ernst & Young and Liverpool City Council, which owns the theatre's freehold. A new lease for the theatre is expected to be granted within the next two months.
Bentley commented: 'Our proposals respect the building's architectural integrity and our commitment to ensuring the theatre remains home to high quality productions is well known. There's a lot of detailed work to do now to ensure that the Playhouse becomes a fitting home for the country's finest actors and playwrights as well as for the paying public.'
Neptune Developments was one of four private sector bidders to put forward rescue plans for the Playhouse Theatre. The company is developer of the £90m Queen Square project - encompassing a four star hotel, restaurants, bars, offices and Liverpool's new tourism information centre - which adjoins the Playhouse.
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