Fears theatre may lose its favourites

Concern has been raised that outsourcing the running of Newark Palace Theatre to a private company could lead to fewer community events being held there.

Newark and Sherwood District Council’s cabinet is tonight due to consider bringing in a company to operate and manage the theatre.

The theatre is owned by the council.

Mr Allan Towler, a member of the Friends of Newark Palace Theatre, said he was concerned that using a private company would mean favourite community events could be lost.

He said: “I can’t see Newark Amateur Operatic Society or Newark Music Club continuing to use the theatre, and if they come out you’ve got two big, firm favourites that bring in audiences gone.

“Whatever we think there’s nothing we can do.

“There were efforts made three or four years ago for it to go into a trust and nothing ever happened.”

Mr Towler said he was concerned a private company would also struggle to make money by running the building as a theatre.

“I don’t see why anyone would take it up because the only thing they could do is change the shows and they may be able to go back to running films,” he said.

Mr Towler said if films returned they could include more musicals, classic films and comedies to ensure the theatre was not in competition with the nearby Odeon cinema.

The report to be put before the cabinet recommends plans to pursue outsourcing the theatre, which it is estimated will cost between £5,000 and £10,000 for the tendering process.

The council decided to look into outsourcing the theatre after subsidising it heavily for several years.

Other options considered, but not recommended, by the council’s Palace Theatre Commissioning Group included scaling down the use of the theatre, forming a trust to run it and closing it completely.

The report said the advantages of outsourcing included increased audience figures and additional uses for the building including a café or bar and restaurant.