AROUND £18,000 was spent to commission a report on ambitious proposals for a new theatre in Warrington before the plans were taken off the table.

But residents have been reassured the decision to reject the plans ‘in no way diminishes’ the town’s ambitions for culture and performing arts.

A proposal to explore possibility of converting the former drill hall into a performance venue with around 400 seats was revealed in September.

Warrington Guardian:

A visual which aimed to give an idea of the style of the town’s future theatre

The site, on Bath Street, is part of the Town Hall footprint.

The Warrington Guardian can reveal around £18,000 was spent on commissioning an external report to look at a business plan on the proposal – with the council leader saying it was dismissed after Town Hall chiefs were told the site could cost up to £25 million to transform.

The project name was the ‘distillery theatre’ – a nod to the town’s heritage, while also emphasising that it would be a ‘producing’ theatre.

Warrington Guardian:

A visual which aimed to give an idea of the style of the toilets in the town’s future theatre 

Cllr Dan Price (IND – Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall) was leading the charge on the new site.

But he stepped down from his position as portfolio holder for culture and partnerships on the cabinet in April after quitting Labour over its stance on Brexit.

Cllr Price says it would have been a highly flexible theatre, allowing for theatre ‘in the round, end on, and thrust, as well as dance and ballet’.

Warrington Guardian:

An aerial view of the Town Hall and former drill hall, where the theatre was proposed to be located. Photo from Google Maps

He also stated that it would have contained ample rehearsal space, room hire, a restaurant, and two bars – and he praised DV8 Designs for its efforts on the scheme before it was dropped.

Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden (LAB – Birchwood) confirmed the authority commissioned an external report to ‘stress test the sustainable commercial value’ of a facility in the former drill hall and to advise on the business case.

He said: “This work was carried out by a cultural leader with expertise in culture, performing arts and the running of a successful theatre, with the support of The Theatres Trust. This work cost approximately £18,000.

“The report concluded that there had been an underestimate of the capital costs in the original business case.

“This had anticipated that the costs could be in the region of £5 million, but the external report found that this figure would be as high as £25 million.

“It also found that the revenue generated by the theatre would not cover operating costs.”

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However, Cllr Bowden has moved to reassure residents over the vision for the borough.

He added: “On the basis of the advice received, we determined that, while this was an exciting proposal, the project was not sustainable and we therefore rejected it.

“This in no way diminishes our ambitions for culture and performing arts in Warrington and we will continue to investigate opportunities to develop our offer, under a refreshed cultural strategy.”

Warrington Guardian: A proposed ground floor plan of the theatre

Cllr Price says he is ‘absolutely gobsmacked’ over the £25 million figure highlighted by Cllr Bowden and described it as a ‘nonsense’.

He added: “A budget of £5 million was only achieved due to extra contingencies insisted by officers at the council.

“The idea that this could increase to £25 million is ridiculous.

“I always said in presentations to Labour group members and other stakeholders that this was never about building an opera house but about delivering a grassroots-led community theatre.

“Furthermore, if a married couple in Manchester can open Hope Mill Theatre with a private loan from their bank in a disused mill, surely Warrington is able to replicate this.

“I’ve not seen the report but would welcome the opportunity to read it but these consultants were always appointed to tell us which theatre would work for Warrington.

“If this is the outcome of that process, I’d been asking for the £18,000 back.”