Council backs away from commitment to long term future of the Thameside Theatre and reneges on pledges to bring matters before cabinet
A THEATRICAL curtain of uncertainty has been brought down on the future of Thurrock's Thameside Theatre.
Over recent years the future of the theatre at the Thameside complex on Orsett Road in Grays has been shrouded in doubt with Thurrock Council indicating it wanted to shut the venue down.
A determined campaign by local activists fought that proposition and a community-driven alliance of businesses and the voluntary sector presented a business plan to take over the venue.
That campaign was wholeheartedly supported by Labour members of the authority, who campaigned against propositions by Conservatives to close the theatre.
When Labour won control of the council last year, it was widely expected that the council would have a more sympathetic view on saving the theatre.
However, local campaigners are now beginning to doubt the veracity of the commitment to keep the theatre alive.
And that doubt has been fuelled by a number of failed promises to bring an item to the council's cabinet with a definitive plan to keep the venue going.
Those promises included a commitment to bring a project report to cabinet earlier this year. That was expected in the spring but didn't materialise. Then it was promised for later in the year and ultimately further pushed back to be on the agenda for September's cabinet meeting.
While that agenda has yet to be published, it appears the matter has been pushed back to March next year – a proposition which Thurrock Nub News has been told jeopardises the interest of local community investors who want to take over the theatre.
Nub News has pressed the council for answers and questioned why there have been so many delays and a lack of commitment from the Labour administration.
Its leader, Cllr Lynn Worrall has previously been a vocal advocate for retaining the theatre, passing it into the community arena and securing its future.
However, she has remained tight-lipped in recent weeks. Relevant community portfolio folders Cllrs Val Morris-Cook and John Kent have also been muted.
Today (Monday, 8 September), the council issued the following statement: "Recently bookings for shows at the Thameside were extended until at least the end March 2027, securing the Thameside Theatre's immediate future and allowing time for a full appraisal of all the options open to the Thameside Complex to take place.
"As such it is expected that a full and comprehensive report, based on this work, will be brought to Cabinet in due course.
"The Thameside Theatre will continue as a haven for arts, culture, entertainment and music while this appraisal of the building takes place, and options are developed based on it. The booking extension means that the Thameside will be able to book shows for the next 18 months at least, helping to attract top talent and guaranteeing that pantos will take place there this Christmas and the next.
"A press release was issued covering the booking extension on 22 August. It can be found on our website at: https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/news/arts-and-culture/thameside-theatre-booking-shows-until-march-2027." Thurock Nub News' report on that release can be viewed here.
Also see:
CHECK OUT OUR Jobs Section HERE!
thurrock vacancies updated hourly!
Click here to see more: thurrock jobs
