Theatre 'could stand empty for 25 years'
Lincoln's Theatre Royal building could stand empty for 25 years if the venue shuts next March, it has been warned.
Director Chris Moreno has around 25 years left on the lease for the property – and City Hall has no plan in place if he decides to stay.
The council would have to pay a sizeable sum to get the publicly-owned building back and bosses are instead urging Mr Moreno to seek Lottery funding to keep the venue open.
However, he insists he has had enough and will board up the building next March.
With no council plan on the table, and Mr Moreno remaining silent on the issue, doubts are growing over what will happen to the Clasketgate building when it closes on March 31.
Coun Hilton Spratt, who played a key role in the theatre's £170,000 a year funding being withdrawn, urged Mr Moreno to "get his finger out" and apply for new funding.
"The ball is very much in his court at the moment," he said.
If it is boarded up, the council would be responsible for the upkeep of the building's exterior, while Mr Moreno would have to maintain the interior.
For more on the future of the Theatre Royal, see Wednesday's Echo
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by merrick, not in the theatre royal
Thursday, October 09 2008, 4:42PM
“and still the political sniping continues! the theatre royal is owned and run by a businessman,the business is failing! end of! if Mr Moreno wishes it to be a community funded venue then he should accept a wage for managing it and nothing more, he should also be held accountable for any loss or profits from the venue in the same way as any other public servant, he isn't and has been allowed to run the the theatre into the ground over many years whilst we fund his ego”
by J. Blackmore, Cherry Willingham
Thursday, October 09 2008, 1:33PM
“Lincoln Boy I regret you might be right -- I agree with you. They will have decided regarding the funds already and wont change their minds. If this is the case then its up to Moreno as to what happens next as its his lease.”
by lincoln boy, lincoln imps
Thursday, October 09 2008, 1:03PM
“ref s mckenney, i agree with you on the comments but;;. If the council wanted to save our theatre, they would ! It like jobs-- you see them in the paper;; but every time when i call these places to see if they got jobs going,9 out of 10 will say no! what i am trying to say is..... they already made their minds up what they want to do or listen to.”
by David Packer, Lincoln
Thursday, October 09 2008, 12:28PM
“The council gave a grant made up of taxpayers money to Chris Moreno for the maintenance of the building. He decided to put it towards wages instead as he hadn't budgetted correctly. The council have now pulled that funding as they need to make cuts for their bad budgetting and Chris Moreno has threatened to board it up if the council don't waste taxpayers money again. people are saying Lincoln will suddenly change if the theatre that most of them don''t use closes down and it should be saved. Some want taxpayers money to be squandered again whilst others want new owners to take charge of the theatre and hope it will be run properly.
Then you have some people who just want to moan about politics that have nothing to do with the story. That's how I see it so far.”
by Dena, Hykeham
Thursday, October 09 2008, 12:25PM
“If the theatre is to close in March it will be a sad day for Lincoln. I take my children to the pantomime every year and they love the old theatre. A new management team needs to take over the running of the venue to give it fresh blood.
Surely there is other funding out there --what about a lottery grant?”