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FEATURE | "This is a future we want to confidently avoid." Theatres Trust announces list of 39 theatres facing its potential curtain call and who are set for Act II - Including one Sheffield venue
- Harry Brogan
- 18 hours ago
- 5 min read
Do you remember a fringe show you saw, just starting out its life in becoming the next big thing? or even another form of live entertainment or even maybe that fun night at disco or the calling out bingo, if you do, then think...where did you see that particular show? Was it a big well known venue like the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield? or was a smaller 100-200 seater theatre?
A night at the theatre is quite regular at HarryTheatreLife, we are lucky to visit many theatres across the country and discover the hidden gems that rarely get the attention deserved. Though some of these hidden gems are needing your help. With the fight for live entertainment venues to stay afloat becoming increasingly harder and harder, and as we move into summer fringe theatre is heightened across various places, it's feeling ever more hard for venues to stay alive. While the reasons for theatres being on the list is not always financial, it also factors in with them also being damaged and becoming unusable or other developments nearby too.
Think, it's not just theatre shows, it's other forms of live entertainment that get effected such as comedy, cabaret, music artists and bands that play in these venues before growing. Venues that allow us as an audience member to discover more and more what we might of not discovered before. This brings us to the topic of this feature....
Today Theatres Trust announces that 39 theatres across the country are at risk of closure, decay or redevelopment, the sad news comes from Theatres Trust's 20th edition of their Theatre at Risk register, highlighting theatres that are facing either its final curtain or revival, with some venues on the brink of closing how do we save them and keep live entertainment venues alive?
Two Theatres included on the list are Doncaster Grand and Derby's Hippodrome Theatre, the Derbyshire and South Yorkshire theatres have both been on the list since the first list in 2006, and were added due to being demolished, or having being damaged. Luckily on a brighter note South Yorkshire venue, Sheffield's Abbeydale Picture House that once was on this list has been removed due to a hopeful full restore.
Two new theatres have been added, Preston Guild Hall and The Forum in Barrow-in-Furness have been added due to following reasons legal and RAAC (Preston Guild Hall) or closed due to asbestos (The Forum)
The grade II listed Abbeydale Picture House in Sheffield, South Yorkshire was added to the risk list in 2024, the risk rating for the venue is valued at 7 broken down into the sections below:
Community Rating | 2 |
Star Rating | 2 |
Risk Factor | 3 |
Abbeydale Picture House was recently leased by Creative Arts Development space (CADS) a charity organisation which helps give another life to local arts and culture, and creative industries venues. After many years of swapping ownership, closing in 1991 following The Furniture Company ceasing trading, it then reopened in 2008 after a new stage and auditorium being restored, though ceased trading 14 years ago, it was then sold at auction to a private owner, with works commencing again for revive the site.
CADS made the hopeful first steps to reopen the venue full time with hosting events in the Flytower and foyer area but unfortunately was not viable enough and closed again. But now in 2026 under current ownership to True North Brew Co have started the next journey.
As of last year, the Theatre has reopened its basement under new owners True North Brew Co. But with prior damages from roofing to plastering to name two remains at this time no go zone in progressing with the works for full new restore and to use the venue for live entertainment again
True North Brew Co have various hopes for the venue, with bringing the venue back into the live entertainment realm, this would include comedy, art events and one for the foodies - food and drink festivals.
As of today, the national advisory body for theatres say that Abbeydale Picture House is in a 'No Risk' zone. As well as Leith Theatre that has also been removed from the register.
Joshua McTaggart, CEO of Theatres Trust says that:
"We are delighted to say that Abbeydale Picture House and Leith Theatre are no longer considered at risk. Their inclusion on the Theatres at Risk Register achieved its purpose, raising awareness to build local support and help unlock funding for these special theatres."
While removal is not the end of the journey Joshua also says that: "there is still work to be done to ensure their long-term resilience."
For me theatre is something special, I've seen a lot over the years, and I very much appreciate and am grateful for all the shows I've seen over the years. To be able to visit larger venues such as the London Palladium or The Lowry and more, I could go on..., for some their first experience is at these smaller venues. These smaller venues can help shows thrive to become big, help people discover theatre, and even allow small theatre companies to perform and without them that opportunity is taken away. When venues are at risk of closing, it is a shame, as for example back in 2023 The Vault Festival closed due to covid, I discovered this festival when I went to see the climate cabaret Acid's Reign which was my first time at the venue and was looking forward to attending again for another year to see more great shows.
While Abbeydale Picture House has had support from Theatre Trust to live on, some are not in a position to do, such as Derby Hippodrome.
Any Theatre can be put at risk on this list no matter the type, it's a shame that 39 theatres are at risk in this 20th list and are in urgent help to survive and keep live entertainment thriving.
Theatres Trust are have begun to identify on what Joshua says are: "a potential trend." of venues built during the 70s needing help to avoid closure or being added to the risk register. We could see quite a few more of these theatres being on the list, with Joshua saying that:
"This is a future we want to confidently avoid."
So how can you help well...Theatre Trust are looking for partnerships and calls on the Theatre owners, operaters and local authorities to come forward and before what Joshua says that:
"concerns become crises."
you can see how you can help here:
Full case studies and assessment criteria can be seen on the Theatres Trust website.
For those who are unaware, Theatres Trust celebrates 50 years this year, its an organisation that supports all types of UK theatre venues helping to champion them and maintain live performance, as an organisation it gives services to help the theatres preventing them becoming at risk. Their campaign is a "vital." one and has helped many theatres over the years including theatres like - Bradford Live, Stockton Globe, Walthamstow Granada and Wilton’s Music Hall a few that we have visited here at HarryTheatreLife.
Other Theatres that are included on the list are, Joe Longthorne Pavilion, Blackpool, Victoria Theatre, Salford, Theatre Royal, Manchester, Brighton Hippodrome, Theatre Royal Margate to name but a few of the 39 theatres.
So when your next at the theatre, think how could you help them keep thriving and keep what we call showbiz "alive".
You can read more about Theatre Trust's Theatre's at Risk Register below:
