Theatre is a 'cultural necessity' says director

Andy Reiss says The Prince of Wales Theatre gave him a grounding in the industry

The closure of a theatre in Staffordshire would deliver a “fatal blow” to arts and culture, a performer and theatre director has said.

Andy Reiss, who has directed and performed in Les Miserables and Beyond The Barricade, said The Prince of Wales Theatre was a “cultural necessity” for Cannock.

Cannock Chase District Council plans to shut the venue as well as the Museum of Cannock Chase, under budget measures to protect other frontline services.

Mr Reiss, who grew up in Hednesford, said the theatre had given him a grounding as a performer and regularly hosts sell-out shows.

“The closure of The Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock, and the Museum of Cannock Chase, would affect so many people in so many different ways – not least the people who would lose their jobs,” he said.

The theatre was set to be refurbished as part of an ambitious town centre regeneration project, part-funded by a £20m government Levelling Up grant.

Meanwhile, thousands of residents supported a campaign to keep the museum in its current home in Hednesford after plans by a previous Conservative leadership at the council to relocate it.

Keith Bevan has enjoyed seeing The Hamsters and other bands at the theatre

Cannock Chase District Council outsourced its leisure, culture, and heritage services almost 13 years ago to Wigan Culture and Leisure Trust - now known as Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles.

Local resident Keith Bevan said he had enjoyed visiting the theatre, but understood the council was trying to cut costs.

“All the councils seem to be running out of money every year, but I think they should leave this [proposal] alone,” he said.

Another local, Sian Blakesley, said she had been to see shows with her grandfather at The Prince of Wales Theatre and was hoping to take her own child this Christmas.

“I'd heard that they had planned to make it bigger because of the people that were visiting at the minute and the shows that were on, so it's a bit of a shock to go from that to 'it's closing'.”

Sian Blakesley says she went to see shows with her grandfather at the theatre and was hoping to take her own child this Christmas

On Thursday, members of the current Labour cabinet at Cannock Chase District Council will consider a proposal to close both the theatre and museum.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, council leader Tony Johnson said it was one of the hardest decisions he had ever been involved in as a councillor.

“I was the portfolio holder for leisure and culture in the late 1990s, early 2000s, when the Prince of Wales was thriving and have enjoyed visiting the theatre on many occasions as a customer or on council business,” he said.

“Nobody wants to be in this position – it is an extremely difficult decision to have to make.”

The authority said it was facing a £1.3m shortfall in its 2025-26 budget and that closing the venues would save it more than £350,000 a year.

The Prince of Wales Theatre was due to temporarily close from spring, but could now close permanently, according to council chiefs

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.