Save Derby Playhouse!

Pollyanna has added her support to the campaign to save the Derby Playhouse.

As a keen theatre-goer and arts supporter, Pollyanna was very sorry to learn of the threat of closure faced by Derby Playhouse. The theatre was closed for ten days in early December, but is back open and trading in administration.

Left: Pollyanna at the re-opened Playhouse with actor James Head – Squire Trelawny in the Current production of Treasure Island

Karen Hebden, chief executive of the Playhouse has issued a statement saying “It has been an extraordinary ten days, but we have been heartened by the massive local and national support that we have received, and by the outpouring of relief to the news of our re-opening. It appears we are in dangerous times for regional theatre, with four others either closed or under threat of closure that I know of.The Derby Playhouse is being kept open by the collective will of the staff, creative team and cast. The Administrators have allowed us back into the building to continue to trade and to put together a business plan to go forward. The Management is also being backed by three ex-Chairs of the Board, who are currently putting together a new Trust.”

Derbyshire Playhouse is currently open for Business, but needs everybody’s support. There are several ways we can help to save Derby Playhouse:

1. Phone the box office today and book tickets to Treasure Island – 01332 363275.
If you cannot come to Derby to see the show, please still buy a ticket! Theatregoers, actors, directors, writers, producers and designers have already done this, from all parts of the globe. (If you buy a ticket that you know you can’t use, tell the box office – and they will try and sell it again. Alternatively, the Playhouse will try and allocate your unused ticket to a charity, community group or school if you prefer.)
2. Write to your councillor and local MP – We need them to appreciate how much support there is out there for theatres such as ours.
3. Send an email to everyone you know who cares about live theatre and ask them to do the same.
4. Sign the online petition : (See www.derbyplayhouse.co.uk)

Pollyanna has already bought her tickets for Treasure Island in January, and is looking forward to seeing this vibrant and energetic production!

A great lover of the theatre, early in her career Pollyanna designed theatre programmes, and in 1986 was commissioned to design for the London Stage, winning critical praise in Time Out for “..The sparse set design by Pollyanna Pickering which leaves the maximum amount of space for the actors without ever looking empty.”

Pollyanna has attended many many productions at Derby Playhouse over the years, and looks forward to many more in the future! For further information visit the Derby Playhouse website.