Manchester City Council

Manchester City Council's Executive are currently looking at a number of options for the Library Theatre Company's future and has identified the Theatre Royal on Peter Street, as the preferred location.

Having outgrown its current home at Central Library, the Library Theatre Company has been searching for a new, more suitable venue for a number of years. The basement space at Central Library is now too small and restrictive for the Library Theatre Company to operate and they are now looking to expand and develop their range of performances and valuable community work.

A number of venues are being considered, but according to a city council report, the Theatre Royal has been identified as "the best solution" and its availability could prove to be extremely timely.
 
The plans will be subject to agreement with the current owners of the building and if approved, would not only offer the Library Theatre Company a more contemporary and flexible space but would also restore the theatre for its original purpose.

The transformation of the Theatre Royal would make a positive contribution to the wider regeneration of St Peter's Square, bringing the city's oldest theatre, which dates back to 1845, back into use.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure said: "The benefits of this proposed relocation are manifold and will have a significant, positive effect on the cultural life of the city. The Theatre Royal - a piece of Manchester's history - would offer a great opportunity for the Library Theatre Company to develop and expand both its range of performances and its valuable community and education work, while also opening up this Grade II listed building and returning the oldest theatre in Manchester to its former glory. We're excited by the proposals."

If the plans go ahead, the Theatre Royal would provide more seating than the Library Theatre Company's current 312-capacity venue and would offer greatly enhanced facilities, attracting more audiences that would in turn contribute to the city's economy. The new venue would also enable the further development of the Library Theatre's successful educational programme and its participation with the local community.

Chris Honer, the theatre's Artistic Director said: "The Central Library has been a wonderful venue for us for over half a century but the prospect of a move to the Theatre Royal offers the Library Theatre Company a marvellous opportunity for the future. What a great story it would be to be able to turn the Theatre Royal back into a theatre."

The proposed move is part of an £155m scheme to transform Manchester's Town Hall Complex, including Central Library and the Town Hall extension, which is not only about improving and restoring buildings but which will also deliver enhanced services to the general public making everything from submitting a planning application to finding advice on benefits quicker and easier.

Refurbishment work on the Town Hall Complex including St Peter's Square, will start next year and the whole project will last up to five years. Central Library is due to close temporarily next summer and if the plans to fully restore the Theatre Royal go ahead, the Library Theatre will perform at venues around the city in the interim, offering continuous theatre provision while the changes take place.

Anyone with tickets for the Library Theatre's current season, which runs until June 2010, can be assured that productions will run as normal at Central Library.

For more information on the Library Theatre visit www.librarytheatre.com