The manager of a community theatre which says it is being forced to close after seven years of providing local arts activities is keeping her fingers crossed for the future.
Christine Lee, general manager of The Exchange Theatre in North Shields, says she has been "overwhelmed" at the response to its upcoming closure which is due to a change of lease on the building. The charity, theatre and café bar, which operates in the Saville Exchange building in Howard Street, announced the news last week "with a heavy heart" saying it had 'no option' but to shut its doors.
The theatre, which has hosted the likes of Lindisfarne and Robson Green, is currently asking people to share their fond memories of the venue ahead of a farewell party on April 15. Then it will close on April 17 when it also preparing to sell off costumes, stage and technical equipment as well as furniture and art.
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The charity shared the news on its Facebook page with its 4,500 followers and, while its future is uncertain, trustees are hopeful it can continue to "provide arts and culture in some format". Christine says: "It's been overwhelming - the response and the support we have had from people who are quite taken aback, as we are, that this has happened."
She said of the charity: "We're hoping we will be coming back with a vengeance but we don't know what that will look like at the moment." They are now entering into a process of redundancy for the mix of 19 part-time and full-time staff although there has been a suggestion some might transfer to the new operation.
She says that while there had been talks with the new provider about ways it might continue to use the building, it was early days of the business plan and there was there a lot of uncertainty as to "how it would be able to fit in".
She added: "It's all happened so quickly, we have to buy ourselves some time and look at the options for the future - maybe taking on a different building, finding a way to partner with others to create theatre and cultural opportunities or it might be having to wind up the charity."
But she is "absolutely hopeful for the future" she said, adding: "We all need a bit of hope at the moment."
While she understands that the charity's bid for the lease had been seen as really strong, it lost out in the assessment criteria to Stonebanks Investments, which North Tyneside Council, which owns the Saville Exchange building, has appointed as "a preferred provider" to be its new long-term leaseholder. Stonebanks has now formed a new company - The Exchange 1856 - and will be investing in a revamp of the venue which, having recently had a facelift, will close for a few weeks for a revamp and then reopen and continue to cater for the arts.
Plans include renovating the theatre auditorium and the company is keen to consult local people about what they want. Owner Paul Stonebanks is from North Shields and says he wants to "embrace and enhance" what already has been achieved there; with plans to support arts as well as businesses and community.
Over the past seven years, The Exchange Theatre - described as a 'unique' multi-purpose venue providing a local space for culture and championing accessibility within the arts - has prided itself upon hosting quality shows at affordable prices and has welcomed hundreds of artists, singers, musicians and theatre companies for various productions, events and exhibitions. When the charity first moved in, the Exchange building was empty, says Christine who herself joined it only last year.
It had held a licence, not a lease, for its part of the building but had hoped to convert it. When it found the council was assessing the venue's potential and looking for a long-term lease holder, Christine said "we were happy and quite excited to look at the whole building", with ambitions to convert it into a cultural hub and community asset.
She said: "It's a key building in a key part of North Shields and it's not surprising everybody wants to make the most of the building." She is supportive of any plans to create local cultural opportunities and adds: "I really hope the Exchange is made use of by community arts groups in the future in a meaningful way. I really hope that."
This week the theatre is hosting one of its last shows - Roy Clarke comedy Open All Hours, being performed by Whitley Bay Theatre Company and running until Saturday - after which it will continue with its programme right up to the goodbye party it is planning to host on Saturday, April 15 with open mic entertainment featuring poetry and music to celebrate all its achievements.
The theatre is also currently inviting people to share their memories of the venue to help create a digital scrapbook which can be kept and shared. On its last day, on Monday, April 17, there will be the sale of its property with proceeds going to continue its aim to encourage local arts to flourish.
While financially it's been "incredibly difficult" for the charity, Christine says all affected upcoming productions and ticket-holders have been contacted and money refunded.
John Sparkes, director of regeneration and economic development at North Tyneside Council, said The Exchange is central to delivering its ambitious plans to develop a vibrant Cultural Quarter in North Shields and that Stonebanks will invest "significantly" in the Grade II-listed building, grow the cultural offer and support its wider ambitions for the town centre.
"Whilst the Exchange will close for a short period of three to four weeks from April 17, this will enable the new operator to carry out some investment into the interior of the building in advance of its re-opening," he said.
Paul Stonebanks, whose company also runs Cullercoats Coffee, said: "I am delighted to be the new custodian of The Exchange. The building is so outstanding and unique that for me it’s imperative that it connects in the deepest way possible to the entire community.
"We need to embrace what’s already been achieved and enhance this through investment and engagement with the local, national and international communities. The Exchange will help support businesses, entrepreneurship, theatre, arts, music, fitness, wellbeing, families and communities to name but a few."
He added: "This is a really exciting opportunity and one that means a lot to me as I was born and brought up here and continue to call North Shields my home. I would also like to reassure everybody who has existing bookings at the Exchange, these will be honoured as a priority and we are already in discussions to see how we can develop our relationships further to enhance the community.”
For more about Stonebanks' plans, including details of a consultation process, see here. The company will be hosting an open discussion and question-and-answer session for people to share their views at The Exchange on April 28 at 2pm. For more information about the theatre, which is still inviting charity donations in the café bar and online, see here.
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