Several theatres in Greater Manchester have been identified at being at significant risk of being lost forever by the Theatres Trust.
The national advisory body, which protects and supports theatre buildings, has released its annual Theatres at Risk Register for 2021.
The register highlights buildings that have significant merit and strong community value, but which are under threat of demolition or permanent closure.
Every building on the list is believed to have a viable future, either as an events space or for community projects.
The register, now in its 14th year, saw only one new addition to the list in 2021 - and sadly it's another theatre here in Greater Manchester.
The Co-op Music Hall in Ramsbottom joins other venues that the Theatres Trust believes could disappear without intervention and restoration.
Of the 31 theatres on the list, others in our region include the Hulme Hippodrome, the Victoria Theatre in Salford, and the Theatre Royal in Hyde.
In the city centre, Peter Street's Theatre Royal - the oldest surviving theatre in Manchester - also remains at risk.
Musician and actor Gary Kemp, who is a Trustee for Theatres Trust, says: "As a performer I know how vital theatre buildings are, adding immeasurably to the atmosphere of a show, whether it is music or drama.
"Every building on the Theatres at Risk list is part of the UK’s cultural and social heritage, but each also holds a special position in their community and with the right support could once more be central to a sense of local pride."
Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan says: "This past year has shown that communities value places where they can come together and that audiences miss live performances.
"While the theatre sector still has challenging days ahead, Theatres Trust believes that theatre will come back stronger than ever and that each building on the Theatres at Risk list has real potential to be a valuable asset to its community, to bring much needed footfall to its town centre and spark regeneration of its area as part of the recovery post-Covid."
The trust is calling on local authorities, theatre owners and community groups to work together on collaborate and creative solutions to protect the venues on the list.
The six Greater Manchester theatres on the Theatres at Risk 2021 register:
Victoria Theatre, Salford
The beautiful terracotta facade of the Victoria Theatre is overrun with vegetation, and the Grade II-listed building has been a target for vandalism over the years.
There are fears that the roof needs to be urgently repaired to prevent permanent damage to the building, which the Theatres Trust hopes could be converted into a multi-purpose space.
In January 2021, Theatres Trust applied to Historic England to upgrade the listing of the Victoria from II to II* as it is the earliest surviving theatre wholly designed by Bertie Crewe.
Hulme Hippodrome
Along with its neighbour the Hulme Playhouse, the Hippodrome dates back to the early 1900s and its magnificent auditorium remains mostly unchanged - though in a state of disrepair.
Manchester City Council served the owner with a Dangerous Buildings Notice in 2017 and closed it. Squatters moved in for a while but the building has been empty since 2018.
The council, as well as the Theatres Trust, hope to find a long-term use for it.
Co-op Music Hall, Ramsbottom - NEW
Built in 1876, the Co-op Music Hall had space for 800 people and was the chief theatrical and social venue in the town - but it's been unused since 1944.
The building represents a 'historically significant building type'
According to a planning application submitted in August 2020, development company Landa Corporation Ltd hoped to convert the upper levels into apartments, which has since been withdrawn.
The Theatres Trust is rallying to have the building listed, with the aim to see the building restored and reopened as a music venue.
Tameside Hippodrome, Ashton-under-Lyne
With one of the most colourful and striking interiors in the country, the Tamside Hippodrome retains a lot of the art deco features that were added in a 1930s refit.
The purpose-built theatre has been completely closed since 2008 and was listed in 2009, saving it from demolition.
It's hoped that the theatre will be able to reopen as a live event space.
Theatre Royal, Hyde
This Edwardian building has been on the register since it was created in 2006, and is in need of extensive repair and restoration.
The theatre operated as a cinema until 1992, and was saved from demolition in 2000, but despite a long period of disuse 'the auditorium retains much of its theatrical atmosphere.'
The Theatres Trust says: "The Theatre Royal is a functionally sound and intact theatre, which could be viable as a community amateur theatre and cinema facility, providing a much larger auditorium than the adjacent Hyde Festival Theatre."
Theatre Royal, Manchester
The Theatre Royal on Peter Street is currently owned by the Edwardian Hotels group, which uses the space as storage.
In the past, it was home to the Discotheque Royale nightclub, and at one point was earmarked as a new home for the former Library Theatre.
It's the oldest theatre building in Manchester, dating back to 1845, and inspired the architecture of London's Royal Opera House.
The Theatres Trust believes the venue has a viable future as a live theatre space again, and continues to work with the hotel group to protect the listed building's heritage.
Elsewhere in the UK:
Brighton Hippodrome
Theatre Royal Margate
Victoria Pavilion/Winter Gardens, Morecambe
Dudley Hippodrome
Spilsby Theatre
Streatham Hill Theatre, London
Groundlings Theatre, Portsea
Theatr Ardudwy, Harlech
Winter Gardens Pavilion, Blackpool
Burnley Empire
Plymouth Palace
Century Theatre, Coalville
Walthamstow Granada, London
Leith Theatre
King’s Theatre, Dundee
Tottenham Palace Theatre, London
Conwy Civic Hall
Mechanics’ Institute, Swindon
Intimate Theatre, London
Kings Theatre, Kirkcaldy
North Pier Pavilion, Blackpool
Garston Empire, Liverpool
Doncaster Grand
Swansea Palace
Derby Hippodrome
