UK's oldest working theatre to get £30.5m revamp

7 hours ago

Clare Worden

BBC News

Reporting fromKing's Lynn

The Guildhall is the country's oldest continuously used theatre space and dates from 1445

West Norfolk Borough Council External view of The Guildhall in King's Lynn.
The building is of brick, with a façade of chequered flushwork, with a 17th century porch. — The Guildhall is the country's oldest continuously used theatre space and dates from 1445

A £30.5m project to redevelop the UK's oldest working theatre into an international visitor attraction has been approved.

The stage at St George's Guildhall in King's Lynn is thought to have once hosted Shakespeare himself.

West Norfolk councillors voted by 35 votes to 12 to approve plans to preserve the venue and develop surrounding medieval buildings and courtyards.

But opponents were worried the authority may have to fill a £16.8m funding shortfall, with one describing the project as "high risk".

The project would see the entire Guildhall complex backing onto the river redeveloped

West Norfolk Borough Council Aerial view of St George's Guildhall complex. The front of the building contains the theatre. Alongside is an internal courtyard flanked by two large barns leading to the river. — The project would see the entire Guildhall complex backing onto the river redeveloped

The plans, which include a museum and educational space, were voted on by West Norfolk Council's cabinet members.

Deputy leader Simon Ring, a member of the Independent Partnership group, said the project was "about the soul of our town".

He said: "The Guildhall is not a project. It is a responsibility."

His speech was peppered with quotes from Shakespeare's plays and was applauded by members of the public.

Independent councillor Alun Ryves criticised the "callous way" the scheme was being presented.

He said: "It fails to offer value for money. It is very, very high risk plan."

Ryves said he had calculated the project would cost each resident in the borough £350.

Conservative councillor Richard Coates said he voted against the project because of the funding gap.

Coates added: "I've never heard of a major capital project which hasn't ballooned in terms of time and costs.

"There is no reason to think this one will be different."

The recent discovery of the medieval stage, where it is thought Shakespeare once performed, has raised the profile of the building

West Norfolk Borough Council Interior of St Georges Guildhall. The floor has been taken up to show the Medieval wooden slats which would have formed the original stage. — The recent discovery of the medieval stage, where it is thought Shakespeare once performed, has raised the profile of the building

Labour councillor Deborah Hennigan said she had struggled to make a decision.

"I have huge concerns about the level of spending.

"This represents the biggest spending decision this council will ever take."

But she said, on balance, she would vote for the scheme.

Green Party councillor Michael de Whalley voted for the project.

He said the process to get to this point had been "tortuous", but he praised the green credentials of the new building, which will include a heat pump and solar panels.

Reform group leader Julian Kirk said he too was worried about the cost and voted against the project.

Leslie Judd and Sharon Fox, who are both passionate about theatre, came to the meeting to support the project

Leslie Judd and Sharon Fox stand next to each other in front of wood panelling.
Leslie wears a green and white t-shirt and has white hair and a beard and a nose ring. Sharon is wearing a navy blue top and has a blond bob and black glasses. — Leslie Judd and Sharon Fox, who are both passionate about theatre, came to the meeting to support the project

Sharon Fox runs King's Lynn Young Players, who are already involved with the Guildhall renovation project.

She said: "We're already reaping the rewards of working closely with the project to provide us with space and opportunities, so for me it is really a light in the future of King's Lynn."

Leslie Judd, trustee of the King's Lynn Players, said he went to the council meeting to show his support for the renovation.

"We are so thrilled that the result is how we would want it to be because we work with the children and the children are the future of theatre," he said.

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