Theatre / News
Public meeting on future of Brewery Theatre
A public meeting is taking place next week to discuss the future of a theatre owned by Bristol mayor George Ferguson.
The Brewery Theatre on North Street – the second, smaller performance space at Tobacco Factory Theatres – has been forced to close following changes in the freehold of the building it shares with Mark’s Cafe and consequent changes in insurance and licensing demands.
As the two organisations will be unable to continue to share front of house facilities including toilets and bar, these changes make it impossible for the Brewery Theatre to host audiences.
The public meeting is taking place on Tuesday, January 12 at 6.30pm in the Factory Theatre bar to share future plans at Tobacco Factory Theatres following the closure of the Brewery Theatre.
Tobacco Factory Theatres director Ali Robertson said: “I was sorry a couple of months ago to announce the temporary closure of the Brewery Theatre to audiences.
“I’m proud that the last two performances in this space – Living Spit’s A Christmas Carol and Kid Carpet’s Noisy Nativity – have been wonderfully attended and brilliantly received by audiences and I’m glad to take a moment to acknowledge what a fantastic and inspiring space this has been for theatre in Bristol since we opened in 2009.
“Since announcing the closure we have received many messages expressing sadness, dismay and frustration regarding the closure and a good many questions.
“Though the future is not yet certain, we’d like to tell audiences, peers and supporters what the next step is. There are incredibly exciting emerging plans for the future of our second theatre space and the work that we programme; plans which, though subject to funding at this point, we would like to share.”
Plans will be announced at the meeting about the Tobacco Factory’s first off-site season in venues across Bristol – Tobacco Factory Theatres Beyond.
During the closure and in the future, the Brewery Theatre space will be used as a technically facilitated rehearsal space.
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