Theatre Director Labels Venue a ‘Cultural Necessity’ Amidst Closure Proposal

A performer and theatre director has stated that closing a theatre in Staffordshire would inflict a “fatal blow” upon arts and culture. Andy Reiss, known for directing and performing in productions such as Les Miserables and Beyond The Barricade, described The Prince of Wales Theatre as a “cultural necessity” for the town of Cannock. Cannock Chase District Council intends to close both this venue and the Museum of Cannock Chase, citing budget constraints aimed at safeguarding other essential frontline services. Mr. Reiss, a native of Hednesford, noted that the theatre provided him with foundational experience as a performer and frequently stages sold-out performances. He stated, “The closure of The Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock, and the Museum of Cannock Chase, would affect so many people in so many different ways – not least the people who would lose their jobs.” The theatre had been slated for refurbishment as part of an extensive town centre regeneration initiative, partially financed by a £20m government Levelling Up grant. Concurrently, thousands of local residents backed a campaign advocating for the museum to remain at its existing location in Hednesford, following earlier proposals by a previous Conservative council leadership to move it. Nearly 13 years ago, Cannock Chase District Council outsourced its leisure, culture, and heritage services to the Wigan Culture and Leisure Trust, which is currently known as Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles. Local resident Keith Bevan expressed his enjoyment of visiting the theatre but acknowledged the council’s efforts to reduce expenditures. He remarked, “All the councils seem to be running out of money every year, but I think they should leave this [proposal] alone.” Sian Blakesley, another local resident, mentioned attending shows with her grandfather at The Prince of Wales Theatre and expressed her desire to bring her own child there this Christmas. She added, “I’d heard that they had planned to make it bigger because of the people that were visiting at the minute and the shows that were on, so it’s a bit of a shock to go from that to ‘it’s closing’.” This Thursday, members of the current Labour cabinet within Cannock Chase District Council are scheduled to review a proposal concerning the closure of both the theatre and the museum. Council leader Tony Johnson, speaking prior to the upcoming meeting, characterized the decision as one of the most challenging he has encountered during his tenure as a councillor. He stated, “I was the portfolio holder for leisure and culture in the late 1990s, early 2000s, when the Prince of Wales was thriving and have enjoyed visiting the theatre on many occasions as a customer or on council business.” He further commented, “Nobody wants to be in this position – it is an extremely difficult decision to have to make.” The authority indicated that it is confronting a £1.3m shortfall in its 2025-26 budget and that the closure of these venues would result in annual savings exceeding £350,000. This report was compiled by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers local councils and other public service organizations. For further updates, follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.