Theatre bid is stepped up
A bid to get Cannock's premier theatre back on track has been launched by council watchdogs with the aim of turning around declining audiences and boosting income.
Members of Cannock Chase Council's scrutiny committee agreed to set up a working group yesterday after receiving a report on the Prince of Wales Centre's operating arrangements.
They heard that ticket sales were down eight per cent and income down by 5.7 per cent on last year in the wake of the recession.
The theatre in Church Street is expected to make a loss of £409,000 this financial year and will bring the taxpayers' subsidy for the facility to more than £2 million over five years.
Councillor Doug Thomas proposed setting up the working group of councillors.
"We need to look in more detail at the theatre and come back with recommendations on what needs to be done," he said.
Committee chairman Councillor Pat Williams urged all members to visit the theatre outside performance times.
"They will then realise how badly designed it is. It needs better catering and bar facilities," she added.
Director of organisational development Tony McGovern said that the 427-seat theatre lacked a studio space to increase income.
He said that the re-development of the theatre would form part of the wider town centre re-development in the long term.
Manager Richard Kelly said the fall in income was disappointing, but staff had worked hard to limit the decrease.
