Theatres Trust releases annual register of buildings at risk

Publishing its annual Theatre Buildings At Risk Register, the Theatres Trust announced that 17 buildings across the UK have been added to the register this year, including Darlington Arts Centre and the Warehouse Theatre in Croydon.

The total number of buildings at risk has decreased to 49, down from 56 last year (2011), and 24 theatres have been removed from the 2011 Register. These include the Grade II* Wilton’s Music Hall in London and the unlisted Conwy Civic Hall in Wales.

Wilton’s has received funds from SITA Trust and the Heritage Lottery Fund which mean the capital works needed to secure the building’s future can now proceed. Ciwb Conwy Cube, the Community Interest Company formed to take on the Conwy Civic Hall has been able to take over the running of the venue with some funding from its local council and it has reopened.

However, some of those lost from the 2011 Register have been demolished including the Waltham Forest Theatre in Lloyd Park (demolished August 2011); lost through change of use, including the Grade II Bedford Civic; or have been granted Listed Building Consent for demolition such as the Brighton Astoria.

Mhora Samuel, director of the Theatres Trust, said “There’s good news that overall the number of buildings on our Theatre Buildings At Risk Register has come down … And we’re pleased some have found the funds and support they so desperately needed, such as Wilton’s and the Gaiety in Ayr. However we’ve also lost some important venues and I’m very concerned about the future of the 17 theatres we’ve added to the Register”