The Trustees of Great Yarmouth’s St George’s theatre and officers from the Borough Council have been working to agree a plan of action on the early 18th century building’s future following its closure in December on grounds of safety.
“On advice from the Council’s Head of Environmental Services, John Hemsworth, the theatre was closed when major problems with the fabric of the building were identified and scaffolding was put in place,” said chair of the Trustees David McDermott.
“This exceptional Grade One listed building is in need of intensive care.
“As custodians of this wonderful building and working in partnership with Stephen Earl, Principal Conservation Officer and David Frowde Head of Architectural Services and others, a plan has been agreed to commence remedial work which should enable the theatre to reopen in July 2007 for a full summer season of shows and plays subject to all safety inspections being satisfactory.
“The Council has secured £50,000 from its building repair fund to put into place remedial work to windows, the apse and brickwork on the end wall to allow the theatre to open again this year.
“The forward plan is to achieve a Heritage Lottery grant or funding from English Heritage of at least half a million pounds for the refurbishments planned.
“To this end we plan to close St Georges during 2008 to enable this work to be done.
“The current Board of Trustees has over the last five years put the financial affairs of the theatre on a firm footing and has increased and varied the plays and shows. A regular summer season and pantomime have been the major source of funding as the Trust has had no significant funding from the local authority or other bodies since 1994.
“The Trust will be using other venues while the work is carried out and fundraising will also be to the fore.
“This has been a very difficult time for the Trustees, council officers, actors and theatre volunteer staff who I thank for their help and support.
“Now more than ever we need the support of local people to ensure the future of this Jewel in the Crown of local buildings which was originally built in 1714 by order of the Town Council as a chapel of ease to St Nicholas.
“Deconsecrated in 1959 it reopened in 1975 as a theatre.
“Patrons in those early days included two knights Sir Kenneth Macmillan and Sir Ian McKellen, our present patron is TV actor Tom Owen from Last of the Summer Wine.
“I hope this statement will help dispel any fears about the theatre’s future, and that people will understand that until plans were in place we could not speculate on St George’s future.”
For further information contact Chair of the St George’s Theatre Trustees David McDermott on 01493 724236, Principal Conservation Officer, Stephen Earl on 01493 846419 or Head of Architecture, David Frowde on 01493 846373.