Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre

Significance

Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre is a building that has been at the heart of its community for over 150 years.

It comprises an original Victorian two-storey administrative block, situated on Union Street, that was expanded in 1890 to provide a new public hall with ballroom at first floor level. The extended building, which became known as the Town Hall, is believed to have been designed by the town surveyor, Robert Naisbitt Hunter and built to celebrate the Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

The building has had many community uses during its lifetime, including as a mixed ballroom, hall and theatre space, the town fire station, a recruiting station for the First World War, the headquarters of the town council, and as additional class facilities for a local school.

In 2010 the building was refurbished and reopened as an arts centre and studio space on the ground floor with a c.450 seat theatre on the upper level. Charitable organisation, Hyndburn Arts Limited took over the running of the arts centre and studio, with the theatre initially under separate management. The theatre was brought under the charity’s operation in 2015.

Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre closed in 2023, but the building remains a much loved and cherished part of the town.

Why is this theatre at risk?

The theatre was added to the Theatres at Risk Register in 2025.

The theatre closed suddenly in July 2023 after Hyndburn Arts Limited, the charity that had managed the theatre for 13 years, went into liquidation. The charity was officially dissolved in September of that year and the theatre handed back to Hyndburn Council.

A series of initial health and safety, and conditions surveys on the building, undertaken in February 2024, determined that the theatre requires significant investment to carry out necessary repair and upgrade works, including new lighting and heating throughout.

While the council has confirmed that it would like to reopen the venue, it cannot currently commit to the mounting costs for the works.

The building remains closed and increasingly vulnerable.

Theatre potential

Prior to its closure, Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre was a much-loved and valued community facility.

A working theatre plays an important role for its local community, both in terms of creating identity and as an economic driver. Hyndburn is the 16th most deprived local authority in the country (UK’s Indices of Multiple Deprivation table) and in the lowest 20% for arts engagement (Arts Council England figures). The loss of this significant cultural facility poses a risk of having further negative impact on the area.

There has been passionate local support to see the theatre reopened. The council has also expressed its desire to see the venue reopening its doors for arts and cultural events.

A council survey undertaken shortly after the theatre’s closure indicated that over 97% of respondents wanted to see the building continue in performance/theatre use. The survey also indicated a desire to see the building’s use expanded to support local clubs/groups, and holding workshops and exhibitions.

The council has reported that it has been contacted by several businesses and organisations expressing an interest in operating the building and continues to urge anyone interested in operating the building to get in touch.

Current situation

In January 2024, Hyndburn Council committed, unanimously, to reopening Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre. The cost of the work to repair, upgrade and reopen the building is expected to be significant.

The council has reported already spending £52k on initial survey and essential health and safety work and a further c.£15k on repairs, maintenance, energy and security requirements for the building. It is currently seeking clarity on the cost of the works that are required to repair and bring the building up to modern-day standards of compliance and has confirmed that further, more detailed investigation will be required to develop the scope and costings.

While the building remains important to the council it has other financial priorities. In autumn 2024, it confirmed that, with the exception of emergency works or surveys, no further work will be carried out until budget has been allocated to design, deliver and manage any future project for the theatre.

Theatres Trust has extended support to the council and hopes to work with it to help find a viable solution to see a key cultural and community facility within the town saved.

Main photo Kimberley Whitehead, Hyndburn Council