A west London theater is preparing to close at the end of the year. The Beck Theater in Hayes currently has an agreement with Hillingdon Borough Council, which owns the theatre, but this will expire later this year, after which the plan is up in the air.
The agreement between the theater and Hillingdon Council was last extended in July 2024 until December 2024, with the option of a further extension of up to three years.
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Trafalgar Theatres, the company that runs the Beck Theatre, claim the council has not responded in time, leaving them uncertain about its future. But the council claims it said it had decided to stop subsidizing the theatre, after which the parent company said it would no longer run the theatre.
Trafalgar Theaters appear to still be taking bookings for shows until June 1st.
Steve Sargeant, theater director said: “We are deeply disappointed that this deadline has now passed without an agreement. We now need to start making exit plans to activate when our agreement expires in January 2025.
“(The council has) so far been unable to give us any clarity on any proposed alternative operation of The Beck, and our concern is therefore that The Beck may close its doors.”
However, the council believes that Trafalgar Theaters is in a sound financial position and should therefore foot the bill for the theatre’s operations.
The council should not subsidize a private commercial entity, the authority says
In a statement released this morning, the council said: “Quite naturally, as part of new terms, the council has sought new operating arrangements as we should not be subsidizing a privately owned commercial entity with council tax payers’ money.”
They added: “At 12.58pm today we received their letter of notification expressing their wish to withdraw from the management of Beck Theater with effect from 13 January 2025.
“In the same letter, both parties asked to agree not to publicize Trafalgar’s decision to cease operations at the Beck Theater until after September 25 and we are bitterly disappointed by their decision to publicize it in this way.
“The council has noted that Trafalgar Theaters continues to take bookings for productions at the Beck Theater until June 2025 and it is seeking urgent discussions with their CEO to understand the reasons for dropping these discussions and remains committed to continuing negotiations.”
Trafalgar Theaters has been contacted for further comment on this.
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