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Councillors to rule on St Albans theatre cinema plans

5:11pm Tuesday 4th January 2011 in News Photograph of the Author By Neil Skinner

Councillors could agree major changes to a St Albans theatre when they meet tonight.

Cabinet members at St Albans District Council are likely to approve a £405,000 plan to cut live performances at The Maltings Arts Theatre and run the venue predominantly as a cinema.

Live performances, for which the venue was designed, will be provided on only an occasional basis if a recommendation by council officers is agreed.

The council, which launched a public consultation last year to plan the theatre’s future, argues there is significant need for an additional cinema facility and denies that the proposed project will adversely affect the new Odyssey venture at the former Odeon complex in London Road.

But Marian Hammant, of the St Albans Civic Society, said she feared live performances at the venue will be “marginalised to the point of non existence.”

Comments(3)

Vanessa says...
5:27pm Tue 4 Jan 11

Interesting report; the council held an on-line consultation which resulted in the majority wanting it to remain predominantly a theatre. Although admitting there was a good age range in the respondents, as the consultation did not come up with the result the cabinet wanted, they approached one school and hey presto got the result they wanted.

Democracy in action?

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marion.jones7 says...
8:09am Wed 5 Jan 11

Would the Councillors not consider updating these facilities and providing better disabled and able bodied toilet facilities so you might consider using the venue so the toilets aren't like visiting Siberia and the hand dryer actually blow hot air.

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Pmilne says...
4:16pm Wed 5 Jan 11

After reading today's report Jan 5) the council's decision makes slightly more sense. If it has been costing us £100k/yr I (and the rest of St Albans) obviously haven't been there often enough! It would be interesting to know why it was losing money - too high a rent to the Maltings property company? - and why it needs £400k spent on it. A small cinema in the city, at least until the Odeon opens, would be attractive but not at the loss of a very pleasant, intimate live venue.

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