Management bid to reopen theatre

The council and board have put in rival bids for the theatre

The board of the Derby Playhouse has submitted a �300,000 rescue plan to the administrators of the venue.

The theatre closed its doors in February after both the city council and Arts Council withdrew funding.

The city council has already put forward a plan to take over the venue but the board said they were confident their bid would be successful.

If accepted by creditors the theatre could reopen its doors by mid-September, a board spokesman said.

Playhouse artistic director Stephen Edwards felt the venue's future was bright.

Management dispute

"The problem with state subsidy is you are not in control of your destiny," he said. "It can be withdrawn at any moment.

"Whereas the board will now have control of its assets and can have strategic control of the company so it is a very different animal.

"It is still not-for-profit but it is fully independent."

The bid will be put to creditors on 30 July and if successful the board hopes to reopen on 13 September.

The city council withdrew its funding from the Playhouse late last year after protracted disputes over its management.

There was a total replacement of the theatre's board at an AGM in January.

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