Epstein Theatre set to close doors for final time
It's after Liverpool City Council decided to stop providing financial support
The historic Epstein Theatre is set to close its doors for what could be the final time today (30 June).
It's after Liverpool City Council decided to stop providing financial support.
In a statement issued on 9 June, the Council said:
"It was decided in 2021 that the cost of more than £100,000 a year in financial support for the Epstein Theatre was unsustainable and, after careful consideration, both the landlord and theatre operator were informed that the Council would be unable to continue this beyond 2023.
"This was not an easy decision. The Council is a huge supporter of the city's cultural sector and continues to annually invest millions of pounds supporting dozens of venues and organisations, but that support needs to deliver value for money for the tax payer.
"The Council paid for the Epstein's Theatre restoration and has supported it on an annual basis since 2011. It was hoped that given both the operator and landlord had more than 18 months to negotiate a new lease arrangement, an amicable solution between the two parties would be found. It is a huge shame that has not materialised."
In an open letter sent to Councillor Harry Doyle earlier this week, Theatre Manager and Programmer Anthony Proctor hit back at the council's suggestion that the Epstein doesn't provide value for money for the tax payer.
Mr Doyle then issued a statement on Twitter.
"I absolutely see the value of the Epstein Theatre within our cultural offer, but the current model doesn’t work and the landlord needs to reflect on costs.
"I’m more than willing to facilitate discussions on setting up a theatre cooperative which will open the doors for funding."
The Epstein Theatre first opened its doors in 1913 as Cranes Music Hall.
After 110 years in operation, today could be its final day - but staff and supporters aren't giving up hope.
A petition to save Epstein Theatre has been signed more than 14,800 times in the last fortnight.
Theatre Manager and Programmer Anthony Proctor said:
"I am heartbroken that we've got to this. I think all of us here never really thought this day would come, but the short, sharp shock is that the day is here and (today) we will close our doors, perhaps, for the very final time.
"This theatre has a future and the people of Liverpool can ensure that this venue is protected.
"I think the Council need to reconsider. I think they need to wake up to the cultural value of this amazing venue and if there is a plan, they need to plan what their plan for the future is."
Artistic Director Bill Elms said:
"This is a really emotional week for everybody involved - for the staff, for the creatives. We've had some incredible people coming in to tell us stories - people who've appeared on stage, people whose stories go back to the 1940s and the 1950s, personal stories about how their parents met at the theatre.
"It shows how this theatre should remain in the city. The thing about this theatre is that there is nowhere else of this size, so it's a huge loss for the city and the creatives. We have some very small studio spaces and then we jump to some very large spaces - there's nowhere inbetween to develop and build your audience in the city.
"It's an historical venue. I think it deserves to be preserved, not just to close without any support whatsoever and sadly a venue of this size cannot survive without subsidy."
Chantelle Nolan, a Director of Epstein Entertainments Ltd. said:
"It's been a couple of weeks now while we've been rallying around, getting our petition out there, asking people to sign and it's a day we never thought would come and the closer it gets to it, the more upsetting it is.
"It is literally heartbreaking"
"Every night I go to bed with a knot in my stomach, wake up the next day praying for a miracle, praying for an investor, praying for somebody to come from the woodwork to help us out in this situation.
"We're asking the Council to change their mind. We're asking anybody for help at this point to keep this beautiful venue open for the people of Liverpool and the surrounding areas.
"It's devastating to think that this gorgeous venue will just be here collecting dust for the foreseeable future or forever. It is literally heartbreaking.
"I want to stress that our company Epstein Entertainments Ltd is solvent, it's running, it's doing well. Everybody knows that a venue of this size can't survive on its own without help, subsidies, grants and so on and so we're just asking for that little bit of help from the Council and anybody to keep this venue open."
Ginni Manning, a playwright in Liverpool, said:
"I'm just very sad and angry. Has the council learned nothing from what happened during Covid where we didn't have spaces to go? Then when that was over, everybody flocked to these places because we need that community, we need that entertainment.
"I'm holding out hope that it still doesn't happen"
"Here in Liverpool, we've got this beautiful building where we can see stories played out on a stage and it's not just for the people of Liverpool. It's for the visitors who come to Liverpool, they had a full house here during Eurovision.
"People come to this building because of its beauty and because of its history, but it's also visiting artists and it's about our reputation on the national platform of the quality of work and the new work that we can get on here.
"It's a huge loss and I'm holding out hope that it still doesn't happen."