SHANKLIN Theatre will close in April, enabling it to be taken over by a community group, and Ryde Theatre will be sold to music college Platform One, it has been decided.
The plans were agreed by the Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet on Tuesday, where councillors stressed both theatres should be retained for community use without the current need for council tax subsidies of more than £200,000 a year.
"Shanklin Theatre has a role to play in serving the community as a centre for the arts. Considering the ideas and enthusiasm generated so far, I’m determined we can bring these plans to reality," said council leader Cllr David Pugh, adding he had received several hundred letters in support of Shanklin Theatre.
The plans received the backing of national advisory body The Theatres Trust, which believes they will help secure the theatres’ futures and attract new audiences.
But Labour councillor Geoff Lumley accused the council of shirking its responsibility by claiming it had no business managing theatres and told cabinet members they should hang their heads in shame.
Despite pleas from supporters of Shanklin Theatre to keep the venue open during the summer season, cabinet member for economy Cllr George Brown said there was no money available — with both theatres in need of refurbishment. Costs are estimated to be £1.2 million at Shanklin and £1.8 million at Ryde. Platform One will pay £200,000 for Ryde Theatre and use it as a music-based education facility.
Director David Pontin said he was pleased with the decision and the costly repairs would be tackled in stages but he declined to expand on Platform One’s plans at this stage.
'The shows must go on at Shanklin’
BLACKGANG-born actress Sheila Hancock has warned Shanklin will lose its soul if it destroys its theatre.
The star of stage and screen said if the theatre was well and imaginatively run, it could be a huge tourist attraction, as well as being a central venue for social activities.
In a letter, read out by Barrie James, chairman of the Friends of Shanklin Theatre, at a meeting of Shanklin Town Council, she said: "Not only was I born on the Isle of Wight, I performed for many years both at Shanklin Theatre and on Sandown Pier.
"It seems an incredibly bad planning approach to get rid of the theatre for some short-term profit."
She added: "I seriously do not know how Shanklin can pretend to be a holiday destination without a centre for entertainment.
"As a town, it will lose its soul if it destroys that noble, historic building. How sad it is even contemplated."
It is hoped the venue will be transferred to a community group, which would re-open it as a one-stop council and community centre for the town, as well as retaining its theatre use.
At Shanklin Town Council, concern was raised at the tight timescale between the theatre closing at Easter and re-opening under community management in early summer.
Cllr Chris Quirk said: "The timescale is very tight, it’s going to be hard but it’s not an impossible timescale."
Cllr Richard Priest said a sound business plan was key to the venture being a success.
"It’s easy to set up a community-interest company, it’s the business plan and operational plan that make them a viable operation that’s going to be the challenge," he said.