Campaigners have been given a boost in their fight to save Hyde Theatre Royal.The Grade II-listed Edwardian building has been empty for more than 20 years.Campaigners have been given a boost in their fight to save Hyde Theatre Royal.The Grade II-listed Edwardian building has been empty for more than 20 years.
There are ongoing negotiations with the current owners to buy or lease the theatre and campaigners are now looking for financial backers who could help make it a reality. “It’s very early days but we have been in negotiations and have put several suggestions forward " said John Gray the Trust's chairman.
The theatre, on Corporation Street, was built in 1902 and was once graced by a host of famous names including Dame Julie Andrews.
It was used as a cinema from 1972 until its closure in 1992, and was saved from the bulldozers by campaigners who successfully fought to get it listed.
It is hoped the theatre, which has soap actors Les Dennis and Meg Johnson as patrons, could also be used as a cinema, art gallery and conference venue.
John added “It would want a lot of money spending on it, but potentially you could have a beautiful venue that Tameside could be proud of.
“It’s not been altered that much from a theatre point of view, the auditorium is more or less the same as it was and with the Festival Theatre – a studio theatre – next door it’s just crying out to be an arts complex of some description.
“Tameside must be the only borough in the country that doesn’t have a theatre and it’s just wrong. This is an ideal opportunity to bring people in and regenerate the town.”