Closing theatre and museum would 'rip the soul out of Cannock', protesters tell councillors at packed meeting

Performance group members and residents of all ages braved the cold on Thursday (November 28) before senior members of Cannock Chase Council were told more at their cabinet meeting about the authority's reasons for considering closing the town centre venue - as well as Hednesford’s Museum of Cannock Chase.

The theatre was set to be refurbished as part of the ambitious town centre regeneration project being part-funded by a £20m Government Levelling Up grant. But the council is facing a £1.3m gap in its budget for 2025/26 and closing the theatre and museum at the end of April 2025 is being proposed “to put the remaining leisure and wellbeing offer onto a sustainable footing”.

The protesters that gathered outside the Civic Centre included theatrical groups who had given sellout performances at the theatre, as well as children who made their own placards at home featuring their favourite museum exhibits, and at times the group burst into song. Many stayed for the cabinet meeting too, which was moved into a larger room than usual while extra chairs were placed in the public gallery to allow more people to view proceedings.

Speaking before the meeting, Tom Allsop from Hednesford’s Tower Players, who recorded voiceovers for exhibits at the museum, said: “We were told there was going to be £20m to improve cultural offer in the district – now the institutions being closed are cultural. It isn’t just a theatre, there are groups there that help children with learning difficulties.”

Dominic Clarson from M3 Studios highlighted the skills young people developed while performing at the theatre. He said: “We have 650 kids and we do 12 sellout performances at the theatre every year.

“We love it there. If they don’t go there we would have nowhere to send these kids.

“We have had kids that have gone on to theatre schools and the West End. You would be ripping the soul out of Cannock if you take the theatre and museum away.”

Caroline Wilson from Backstreet Theatre Company, who is a member of Cannock Chase Arts Council, said access to the arts was important for mental health. She added: “It would be catastrophic if it was taken away.

Ruth Burns from Cannock Wood and Gentleshaw Musical Society also spoke of the benefits the venue provided to communities and people of all ages and abilities. She added: “We’re performing Elf the Musical at the theatre next week, to a sellout audience for five nights. This theatre cannot be closed.”

The council’s chief executive Tim Clegg and welcomed the protesters to the meeting. Council leader Tony Johnson, who started his first job as a mining apprentice at the Valley Colliery that would later become the museum, urged supporters of the theatre and museum to put forward their views and suggestions to maintain the district’s cultural services in the years to come.

Cabinet members were told that the theatre was currently running at a considerable subsidy. But funding given by the Government for the Levelling Up work could not be used for day-to-day maintenance of the venue because it was not intended for that purpose.

Councillor Johnson said: “Nobody wants to be in this position and we consider this report with a heavy heart, not least with regard to the people who work in both locations. It is an extremely difficult consideration we have got to make but as a responsible authority we have to live within our means.

“We don’t want to hit people with extra taxes. We will work with community groups and organisations that use the theatre to find alternative venues and we want to protect other services for the people of Cannock Chase.

“We are not taking any decision on closure tonight. We want to listen to your proposals and what you have to say.”

A four-week public consultation on the future of culture and heritage services in Cannock Chase was launched on Friday (November 29). It will be open until January 2 of 2025.

For more information on getting involved visit www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/have-your-say-future-culture-and-heritage-services-cannock-chase. Paper copies will also be available at the theatre, museum, civic centre, libraries, leisure centres, Rugeley Community Centre and Pye Green Community Centre.