Theatre News

Exeter Northcott Theatre Goes into Administration

Exeter’s Northcott Theatre has gone into administration, it has been announced. According to a press statement from Arts Council England, the decision was made at a meeting of the board of trustees yesterday evening (24 February).

The Northcott, which was refurbished in 2007 and won a reprieve from proposed Arts Council funding cuts the following year (See News, 1 Feb 2008), has existed as a producing repertory theatre since 1967, and currently employs 58 staff, of whom 20 are full-time.

A spokesperson 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. We will now work with the administrators to see what assistance we might be able to offer to the organisation going forward.”

Geoff Myers, chairman of the Northcott’s board of trustees, said in a separate press statement (issued by Exeter University): “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 theatregoers 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.”

Administrator Ian Walker added: ‘In the short term is it our intention to try and 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.”

The 470-seat venue (which is located on the university campus) was built in response to requests from local residents that, following the demolition of the old Theatre Royal, the city should not be without a professional theatre. In 2007 it reopened following a £2.1m redevelopment but was immediately threatened with closure when ACE revealed plans to cut all of its £547,000 annual grant following a controversial spending review.

The decision was reversed in February 2008 on condition the Northcott revised its programming and community work. At the time, ACE South West executive director Chris Humphrey said that he was “confident that we are investing public money wisely”.