Thameside Theatre

Significance

Thameside Theatre is a purpose-built, mid-scale council theatre within a larger complex consisting of a library, museum, and civic offices. It is the only theatre provision for the Borough of Thurrock in Essex. It has been operated by the council since it first opened in 1971 receiving professional and community shows, staging an annual pantomime, and hosting smaller-scale work within its studio space.

Why is this theatre at risk?

Thameside Theatre was added to the Theatres at Risk Register in 2022.

In July 2021, Thurrock District Council declared the Thameside complex, in which the theatre is located, surplus to requirements and asked officers to investigate the sale or disposal of the complex.

The council had planned to vote on its permanent closure in March 2022, but following a campaign from the local community there were discussions about retaining it as a community-run facility.

Local community groups came together to set up a charitable organisation, Thurrock International Celebration of Culture which, at the beginning of 2022, submitted a proposal to the council to take over operation of the venue. The council also received a further proposal from Waltham International College. Neither bid was  taken forward.  

In late summer 2022, news of the council's debt of £1.5bn surfaced leading to a declaration of bankruptcy.

In January 2023, a paper was submitted to the council advising it to sell assets worth £160m over the next eight years. However, in November 2023, the council confirmed that disposal of the theatre was not part of its immediate plans. 

Thurrock Council’s ongoing financial difficulties have continued to put the theatre at risk. The theatre remains open, but its future is still uncertain.  

Theatre potential

This is a functional and popular local theatre. It is equipped to receive touring productions, although some investment would improve the space. The issues with this theatre are the ongoing maintenance, upkeep of the complex and finding complementary uses.

Current situation

In January 2024 Thurrock Council began a public consultation exercise on the relocation of the library and museum from the Thameside complex to the nearby Civic Offices. These plans do not include the theatre, and a separate consultation exercise was undertaken in relation to an alternative provision of cultural activities and events in Grays and across the wider borough. There is concern that the relocation of key services from the Thameside complex will further reduce the viability of maintaining the theatre.

Following a change in the make-up of Thurrock Council following the May 2024 local elections, there has been a more optimistic mood locally about the future of the theatre. Programming has been allowed to continue until the end of December 2025 panto run. Vital income and connections with audiences will be maintained and the council has committed to undertaking essential maintenance during the financial year. The council has commissioned an options paper, including transferring the theatre to community management. The options paper is expected to go to the before the end of this financial year.

Thurrock International Celebration of Culture has been successful in its application to have Thameside Theatre listed as an Asset of Community Value. 

Theatres Trust seeks to engage with the council to encourage bids that retain theatre use and to support the development of community bids. Should the building be redeveloped, Theatres Trust would seek an appropriate like-for-like replacement provision to provide users and audiences of the current theatre with the same professional standards of performance space.

Main image, Thameside Theatre by Theatres Trust