Theatre boss: 'I'll let it rot after I shut it'
Lincoln Theatre Royal director Chris Moreno says he is willing to let it rot following an explosive row with City Hall.
Mr Moreno said he was so angry with council bosses for withdrawing funding that he had lost all interest in the building's future.
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The Theatre Royal
He also blasted Lincoln City Council chiefs after they claimed he had failed to submit accounts during the 10 year, £1.5m subsidy programme.
He said this was totally false.
And in a frank interview with the Echo, Mr Moreno said he was ready to "lock the door and throw away the key".
"It's going to stand empty and rot," he said. "It will be boarded up right away.
"Come the end of March, I don't care what happens to the place."
There are 25 years remaining on the £75,000 lease on the Lincoln theatre Mr Moreno signed with the council in 1993.
The man who decided to end funding, Coun Hilton Spratt, has admitted there is no plan in place to get the lease back if the building is boarded up.
But if no business wants to take on the property, Mr Moreno said the council would have to pay a sizeable sum if it was not to stand empty for years.
"At the moment I would not be charitable," he said.
For more of Mr Moreno's interview with the Echo, plus a response from Coun Hilton Spratt, see Friday's Echo
34 Comments
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by John, UK
Sunday, October 12 2008, 5:25PM
“The Theatre Royal ought to be taken out of the 'care' of this man, and made into the beautiful little theatre/live music venue that it deserves to be. Shame on anyone who would let such an asset to the city rot. Shame!”
by Mike Cowley, Lincoln
Sunday, October 12 2008, 12:52AM
“All I can say is good riddance to bad rubbish!! My soon to be Ex-Wife used to think that she could act. At least now there is no outlet for those allusions!!!”
by Yvonne Sullivan, The UK
Sunday, October 12 2008, 12:46AM
“Well proves my point that Lincoln is not only rough now but also devoid of any culture. To be honest with you the last production I saw had shocking acting like in the Full Monty. The girls were particularly rough, and frankly I have seen better acting on the PG Tips adverts with Chimps.”
by Taylor, Lincoln
Saturday, October 11 2008, 11:18PM
“After the Drill Hall made its comeback most of the Theatre Royal friends (and some staff) upped and went as it were, and given Moreno's behaviour who the heck can blame them. I don't know a single person who has anything good to say about him; and as a great fan of the place I'm hoping someone who actually cares for the place will take it on. A large community project would be the most appropriate if the council want to throw their chequebooks around, but I doubt any reasonable ideas could ever be considered, eh?”
by Geoffrey G Brooking, Henley upon Thames
Saturday, October 11 2008, 9:40AM
“Exactly. Why should tax payers have to fund this. Businesses should be left to run as businesses. That way we know whether they are viable or not. The only rot on here is socialist rot!”
by paranoid, Lincoln
Friday, October 10 2008, 12:27PM
“I ask that question all the time, why indeed!”
by Jez Ashberry, Common Ground Theatre Company
Friday, October 10 2008, 12:14PM
“Why??”
by Jez Ashberry, Common Ground Theatre Company
Friday, October 10 2008, 12:10PM
“Why??”
by shhhh, Lincoln
Friday, October 10 2008, 12:06PM
“Jez, that was supposed to be kept close to your chest.”
by Jez Ashberry, Common Ground Theatre Company
Friday, October 10 2008, 11:56AM
“There is work going on behind the scenes to keep the theatre alive. There's a meeting next week for all the local groups interested in using the theatre and contacts have been made with the city council. Watch this space...”