Fears over theatre's future as new hours planned
Durham County CouncilPlans to reduce a theatre's opening hours have prompted concerns about its future.
The Empire Consett, County Durham, is due to be shut three days a week as part of a revised timetable proposed by Durham County Council.
But residents warned it would harm the viability of the venue and Consett town centre.
The local authority said the Empire, alongside Gala in Durham and Bishop Auckland Town Hall, which it also manages, was facing several challenges and it was focused on financially sustainable programmes.
Councillor Kevin Earley told a council meeting the implication of closing the theatre an extra night a week was putting "another shutter a day down in Consett".
The member for Benfieldside added it would "reduce the chance of making money".
The 500-seat auditorium cinema and theatre was built in 1913 and brought in-house by the council in 2018.
Access to live performances
Veronica Andrews, councillor for Burnopfield and Dipton, warned the reduced hours could lead to the eventual closure of the venue, adding it would lose the films it showed.
Earley said the changes would have an "appalling impact" on staff who would lose hours.
The venue closed for seven months in 2024 for essential roof works, costing £470,000.
In the last financial year, the Empire had a net cost of £135,892 against a budget of £76,116, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Alison Clark, Durham County Council's head of culture, sport and tourism, said the Empire remained "central to our culture offer" and there were "no plans" to reduce the number of live performances.
She said culture venues including the Empire were subsidised to "support the cultural sector and make sure residents of all ages and backgrounds can access live performances and cinema".
"It is important that we are constantly reviewing the way services are delivered at all venues to offer our residents the best value for money," she added.