Shows planned for closed theatre

There are several groups interested in running the theatre

Plans for a Christmas production at Derby Playhouse have been announced by the city council - even though it is not in charge of the venue.

The cash-strapped theatre is still closed while administrators decide who should run the site. One of the offers on the table is from the city council.

Organisers of the council's Derby LIVE arts festival, said they had "pencilled in" the venue.

But they admitted they needed a decision within weeks to proceed.

Cash demand

Ray Rippingale, the council's assistant director of culture, hinted the matter could be decided very soon.

"We are very close, I think, now to the administrator being able to say whether the theatre will either be handed back to the Derby Playhouse Ltd, the company that ran it - or they will find it a new future."

The Playhouse went into administration after both the city and Arts Council withdrew funding, following long-running disputes over the management.

The theatre's board looked as if it would lose any chance of reopening when the Arts Council demanded the return of �1m in funding - but this was subsequently deferred.

The board now hopes to run the venue as an independent body.

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