Despite being the largest theatrical hub in Britain aside from London’s West End, a theatre in Sheffield has been named as one of the most at-risk venues in the country on the Theatres at Risk 2024 register.
The Theatres Trust annual list identifies theatres most at risk across the country of potential closure, decay or redevelopment. The 2024 list names 39 venues, including Sheffield’s Abbeydale Picture House, located to the south of the city centre, as well as the Doncaster Grand.
Rated on immediacy and risk type, building significance and community importance, the Theatres at Risk register aims to identify the venues most at risk in a bid to help stimulate progress and gain attention to help save venues which find themselves at risk. Abbeydale Picture House is a new addition to the Theatres at Risk register this year, whilst the Doncaster Grand has repeated its appearance from the 2023 list. The Theatres Trust is calling for greater partnerships between local authorities, community groups and other interested parties to come together to protect at risk venues before they are forced into closure or further disrepair.
Sheffield’s Abbeydale Picture House was built in 1920 and used as a cinema before being equipped for ‘talkies’ (the first sound films) in the 1930s. It continued in its cinematic use until 1975, before becoming an office furniture outlet. The building is privately owned, with the current owner taking great strides to restore the building, with parts of it leased to alternative businesses. However, the long-term damage has left parts of the building inaccessible, and if current leaseholders Creative Arts Development Space (CADS) vacate their lease, the building will be empty and left to deteriorate even quicker, with funding sought to purchase the venue outright not being forthcoming.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Abbeydale Picture House said: “Today we can announce that The Abbeydale Picture House has been added to the Theatres at Risk Register. This register aims to spotlight and support theatre buildings across the UK facing significant threats. The Abbeydale Picture House, like others on the list, is now recognised for its vulnerability”. The statement went on to thank the public for “ongoing support as we navigate this situation and work towards preserving the venue”, including for the Theatre’s Trust for “lots of support and expert advice since we took on the lease for the building in 2017”.
It is hoped that publicly naming the venues most at risk will help to spur funding, but with Sheffield City Council reported to be facing a £17.4m budget shortfall, it is unclear as to whether the local authority would be able to offer any financial support to this venue, despite being one of the most at risk in the country.
The full Theatres Trust 2024 Theatres at Risk register can be found here. Sheffield City Councillors for the Nether Edge and Sharrow Ward, as well as the MP for Sheffield Central, Labour’s Paul Blomfield, have been approached for comment
