Traders raise worries over theatre restoration schemes

Mark Branagan

THE stage is set for a meeting between council chiefs and traders concerned that the curtain could come down for good on a seaside town’s largest theatre.

Eyebrows have already been raised about the decision to invest 3.5m restoring Scarborough’s Open Air Theatre, which had already failed as a venue, while The Futurist continues to attract crowds under a make-do-and-mend stewardship.

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Local cinema boss Barry Stead has ensured the show went on after leisure giant Apollo pulled out as Futurist managers complaining about falling ticket sales.

The council has set up a “brains trust” to consider the long-term future of The Futurist. Now worried traders have called an urgent meeting with the council over the future of the complex.

The Chamber of Trade says with doubts and uncertainty over the building’s future, members want answers to key questions.

A special meeting of the Chamber will be held next Wednesday at the Lysander Hotel on Weydale Avenue called What future for the Futurist?, attended by the council’s strategic director David Archer.

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Chamber secretary Chris Bostock said: “Essentially the Chamber believes the Futurist is a major attraction in the town and a fundamental component of Scarborough’s economy, and as such needs to be retained.

“We understand it is not in good physical condition and a refurbishment or rebuild is imperative. We are also aware of, but perhaps do not fully understand, the apparent conflict between the Futurist and other venues in the town and whether or not they are mutually exclusive.

“This meeting will perhaps give us the facts rather than the rumour and hearsay that seem to be prevalent.”

Mr Bostock said many members held strong views about the Futurist, as did many other people in the town.

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