Dudley Hippodrome: Give us four years to restore theatre
It will be at least four years before Dudley Hippodrome is once again open to the public as a theatre – the campaigners behind its restoration have said.
It was revealed last week that the landmark building has been saved after Dudley Council approved a last-ditch bid from campaigners to take it over.
Black Country Hippodrome Ltd will be handed a five-year lease to allow the group to refurbish the derelict former theatre on Castle Hill.
Members were in jubilant mood at the group's AGM on Thursday night, but leaders have stressed that the work has only just begun as they seek to keep the money rolling in to make their dream come true.
And it was revealed that due to funding constraints, it was likely to be 2020 before the doors to the Hippodrome were thrown open again. Asbestos needs to be removed and repair work is needed to bring it up to scratch to host plays, shows and community events.
Members were also told that the famous old building was just two weeks away from demolition when the agreement was struck.
Dudley Council's plans to knock the Hippodrome down and replace it with an open space remain in the background, ready to be brought back out should the campaign group fail to live up to their promise of being able to refurbish the building, which was last used as a bingo hall seven years ago and has not been a theatre since the 1960s.
The group's Larry Homer said: "There is a long, long way to go, but the initial work is done – we have got the lease.
"There are a few other things that we have got to look at, the running costs as it is – it's a wreck really. But we are over the major hurdles, we're on the home straight.
"It's a four-year plan. It's only four years due to funding. We wanted it to be quicker – if we had the money we could do it in two years, but the period is irrelevant. If we have got five years on the lease, five years automatically gets 50 years."
He also revealed just how close the Hippodrome came to disappearing. The building looked all set to be demolished when the council revealed the plans for the open space.
Paying tribute to the fellow board members who put the business plan together, he said: "They had two weeks' notice to try and stop the bulldozers, but they did it."
Mr Homer also revealed his vision for the future of the Hippodrome.
"It will be a community-based project, but it has got to earn money, it has got to sell tickets, through gigs, pantomimes and shows," he said.
