Theatre for Northwich: Who do you think you are kidding?

JUST across from the derelict Regal Cinema there is a street sign saying ‘Theatre Court’. As far as I know this was the sight of the proposed theatre for Northwich, that was cancelled by a man by the name of Hitler. I vaguely remember an outside shell of the building still being visible before the Job Centre Plus was built on the site.

Northwich has waited since that far off time for a purpose-built theatre to be erected, but it has waited in vain. Our hopes were raised with the Northwich Vision. Surely it would at last include a theatre? But no, we are to have a community centre instead. The way things are going we will not have a community to use it, as most people are spending more and more of their free time either in front of the TV or driving to other towns that have something for them to do.

The argument is that we don’t need a theatre – it would be underused and poorly supported. Tell that to the Grange School, whose theatre is constantly in use by not only the school but by several outside theatre groups.

I even hear Knutsford Amateur Operatic Society intend to use it for their next show and the Mid Cheshire Society recently used it as a successful venue for their production of Calamity Jane. The group was delighted with the venue, and so were the people in the audience – in excess of 700 over three nights.

I know money is tight but surely the council have a little land somewhere that can be sold to finance something this town so badly needs.

I am sure the local population would also be keen to sponsor such an asset. Maybe one of the local businesses would like to have its name attached to the theatre, who knows unless we ask?

This area has several amateur groups who would love to have such a facility in the town – the Mid Cheshire, Barnton, Knutsford and Vale Royal amateur operatic societies, the Harlequin Players and the Davenham Players to name but a few. The building could double as a community cinema and even host professional theatre groups.

Come on councillors – be brave and give us at least one building we can put to good use!