A COMMUNITY is rallying around its theatre for what could be its final curtain call.
Efforts to save Shanklin Theatre from the Isle of Wight Council axe have been bolstered by the support of Shanklin Town Council, which agreed to investigate proposals to re-establish the landmark building as a town hall and civic centre.
As well as a theatre, the venue, likely to be run by a community interest com-pany, would incorporate a tourist information centre and a town hall and office relocated from Falcon Cross Hall.
That hall, in Falcon Cross Road, could then house the library, creating two civic hubs at either end of the town.
Speaking at a well-attended extraordinary meeting of the town council, on Thursday last week, Cllr John Fleming said: "It could be a win-win situation.
"I think it’s an opportunity to get the library down this end of the town, for us to get our town office and, the main reason, we keep the theatre open."
Cllr Chris Quirk produced figures which showed that in 2007/08, the theatre brought in £236,411 but paid out £276,239 on salaries.
He said the theatre would need to look at using volunteers and increasing income by allowing more people to use the building.
"There are plenty of rooms in there for community use," he said.
Cllr Quirk stressed the importance of taking decisions now before the theatre became a listed building, when the cost of carrying out essential repairs and any alterations would increase significantly.
Cllr Richard Priest, who fully supported the proposal, voiced a word of warning.
"We have got to learn from the Winter Gardens, in Ventnor. We don’t want this town mortgaging the future of our kids just to have a short-term solution," he said.
"At the end of the day, the numbers have got to add up."
'Looking at future of culture in area’
PEOPLE turned out in force to voice their support of Shanklin Theatre, at an extraordinary meeting of Shanklin Town Council on Thursday, last week.
Barrie James, chairman of Friends of Shanklin Theatre, said they had a unique opportunity to create a cultural centre for the bay area.
"If we let the theatre go I think we are going to lose the chance forever," he said.
"You are looking at the future of culture within the bay area for us, our children, and our children’s children."
Robert Sibley, who lives in the town, said: "Not so long ago we had three theatres in the bay area. We rely on tourism for our main income. To do away with the theatre in a place like this is just mind-boggling."
And hotelier Karena Barton said: "I am really enthusiastic about the possibilities there might be for the theatre. If it were to go, it would cause a black hole in Shanklin, which I am not entirely sure anything could fill in the same way."
Reporter: martinn@iwcpmail.co.uk