Frustration as two major theatre venues stay shut

Theatre companies have expressed frustration that two major venues are still closed after the discovery of asbestos and crumbling concrete.

The auditorium in the Sands Centre, Carlisle, will be shut until next year and The Forum in Barrow is not due to reopen for two years.

Theatre director David McNeill said there was "something fundamentally wrong" with the time being taken to deal with the situation.

Cumberland Council, which owns the Sands Centre, said it was a difficult decision to postpone more productions, while the Forum, owned by Westmorland and Furness council, previously said the theatre had to remain closed while work was carried out to the Market Hall next door.

It was announced on Tuesday the auditorium in the Sands Centre, Carlisle, would not reopen until next year while the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in the roof was removed.

The removal of approximately 200 tonnes of Raac got under way last year after it was discovered in September 2023.

But January's Storm Éowyn hit a temporary canopy and caused delays to the work.

Meanwhile, The Forum in Barrow is not due to reopen for two years after being closed suddenly in July when asbestos was discovered.

Cumberland Council leader Mark Fryer told BBC Radio Cumbria postponing more shows was a "really, really tough decision" but necessary.

"I mean, a really difficult decision to take but obviously with the Raac concrete problem we've got about 200 tonnes of concrete to take out of the roof and obviously in January we had the storm which has seen the whole roof lift off," he said.

But Mr McNeill, from StagedRight Productions, said this was the third year the Carlisle company's shows have had to move to smaller venues due to the ongoing work at the Sands Centre.

"Young people or old people who want to perform, basically we've robbed them of three years of professional training," Mr McNeill said.

"There's something fundamentally wrong here that we're three years down the line and we're no further to having an arts venue back in Cumbria."

In Barrow, The Forum initially announced the theatre would be shut for six months while the asbestos was removed.

However, the closure was extended by two years while regeneration work was carried out on the adjoining Market Hall.

The theatre said the next phase of work to the hall involved heavy machinery which could lead to areas of safely contained asbestos being disturbed in both venues.

Katherine Parkinson, who runs KS Musicals in the town, said the extended closure had been "very disappointing" and had resulted in reduced profits due to her shows having to be staged in smaller venues.

"I completely understand why it's staying closed, it's just the manner that it's been dealt with hasn't been the best," she said.

"It does feel like the work in the market has taken priority over the work that needs to be done at The Forum."

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