Theatre Royal Margate has been included in this year’s Theatres at Risk Register.
The listings were announced by the Theatres Trust, the national advice and advocacy body for the UK’s theatres, today (January 28)
This year, the register has 44 UK theatres threatened by closure, due to severe structural or safety issues, or redevelopment proposals.
The Theatre Royal Margate is one of two Kent venues on the list, the other being the Roundhouse Theatre in Dover.
Theatre Royal’s inclusion says: “Due to long closure, the building has significant dilapidation and is in need of capital investment to return it to a usable space.”
The Grade II* listed property has been shut since April 2022 when the lease agreement with operator Your Leisure was ended.
The historic theatre hosted its final show on April 28 and was then shut to await refurbishment and arrangements for a new operator.
It was listed in 1955, and in 2018, it was added for the first time to the Theatre Trust’s At Risk Register.
The venue was built in 1787 and used as a theatre, with periods as a chapel and cinema until 1963.
It was remodelled in 1874 by Jethro Thomas Robinson. The only other auditorium designed by J.T Robinson is The Old Vic, but after the extensive remodelling of the proscenium arch at The Old Vic, the Theatre Royal Margate is the last remaining theatre with the architect’s design intact.
In March 2021, £2.2m of Margate Town Deal’s £22.2m funding was allocated to the Theatre Royal. Since then, a new plan to create a nationally significant performing arts hub in Margate has been created, focusing on the Theatre Royal’s 245 years of history.
Thanet council says this combines heritage, performance and a move towards financial sustainability. The vision reflects the need to conserve, restore and modernise both the theatre and 19 Hawley Square.
Last year it was agreed to reallocate £2.8m of Margate Town Deal funding from a highways and public realm project to the refurbishment of the theatre.
Initial designs presented by Nick Lee Evans, a Specialist Conservation Architect from Lee Evans Partnership, showed an extension to the Addington Street theatre building, widened pavement, reinstated signage and a new box office entrance.
For the five floor building in Hawley Square designs show rehearsal space in the basement; on the ground floor plans show a studio theatre for 50 people, sound studio, green room, bar and coffee area; first floor plan show offices, meeting spaces and a roof garden and, on the two upper floors, accommodation for the theatre companies.
The 19 Hawley Square venue, which was believed to have historically been The London Hotel, will also have offices and accommodation for touring theatre companies.
The Theatre was bought by Thanet council as ‘owner of last resort’ in 2007. The building was shut for a six month refurb programme and all staff were made redundant. It was then leased back to the Margate Theatre Royal Trust on a peppercorn rent until 2012 when the Trust went into administration.
Thanet council initially bought 19 Hawley Square from Orbit Housing in 2011 with a view to expanding the Theatre’s facilities.
In 2014 Thanet council offered a long lease or freehold interest in the theatre, and buildings at 16a and 19 Hawley Square and there was an expression of interest from Soho Theatres.
Soho Theatres developed a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver an improved theatre alongside community, food and beverage and hotel space at 19 Hawley Square. However, this bid fell through due to being at the end of the funding period although there was sufficient support for the idea.
Your Leisure took the site on in what was supposed to be an interim measure but had been running it up until the closure in April 2022. All staff were made redundant.
A projected reopening date is May 2027.
Whats left in Thanet? Council letting everything go to crap. WORST EVER COUNCIL. Cant even The dustmen cant do a good job and just mix up bins once been empty.
A wonderful old building, deserves to be renovated back to its original charm. Famous for it being haunted.
Why isn’t the Winter Gardens on the register?
Theatre royal should never have closed, it was never losing money, got caught up with the winter gardens theatre problems. Labour group on tdc promised they would open both , 2 years later, still promising
Indeed – the theatre closed almost three years ago according to the article – and is due to remain closed for another two years.
Five years ? !
Is somebody sitting on their hands; have they fallen asleep; or has the file fallen off somebody’s desk ? ? ?
The Theatre is being repaired and refurbished taking advantage of hard to come by funding. It wouldn’t have survived for long in its previous condition and how it was being managed.
It’s been yonks since I saw a play at the Royal and I was a bit blotto at the time. Let’s hope the grand old dame is soon back on her feet.
Just think how much money has been wasted by TDC/KCC on money losing grifter ‘art hubs’ & lectures on black hair/grafitti masquerading as art groups/projects in the last decade or so & how actual local gems have been left to rot-Theatre Royal, Winter Gardens, Tudor House etc.
Only a year ago on this very site TDC said they didn’t have the funds to do the repairs & maintenance on the Tudor House & thus it would remain closed. Yet there has always been money for vanity projects with a very nominal interest-because it masquerades as art/culture to get funding. Thankkfully that now seems to be ending-maybe the cash can now be found?
i agree with the above comment , if it was to be converted into an arts centre / gallery they would be throwing money at it .this area needs a massive shake up , but i fear its to late
This building was already an anachronism when the Winter Gardens and the Hall by the Sea were built.
Any monies would be better spent today for the non-luvvy refurbishing the cinema at Dreamland.
….er,isn’t money secured for this and work being planned/done with view to opening in 2 years? What. Ore do you want !!