Chelmsford Theatre revamp cost soars as panto also cancelled

The cost of refurbishing Chelmsford Theatre was given a budget of £1m, but it will now cost more than £3m

Issues with suppliers has led to the revamp of a council-owned theatre spiralling in cost to more than £3m, with a pantomime also being cancelled.

Work to give Chelmsford Theatre in Essex a new foyer, bar and toilets was due to finish before December.

The city council said delays in getting construction materials caused costs to soar and had led to the Christmas panto of Jack and the Beanstalk being canned.

The council's deputy leader blamed Brexit for the problems.

The theatre's foyer, bar area and toilets are being refurbished

The original budget approved for the project was £1m, but that was hiked up to £2.75m in March and is now up to £3.25m.

The Christmas panto, which would have generated about £440,000 in revenue, was also shelved because of delays to the refurbishment.

People with bookings have been invited to transfer tickets to the 2023 Christmas shows instead.

'Very disappointed'

Conservative councillor Mike Steel asked a city council meeting: "How did it go so wrong?"

"Some of my constituents, complaining to me about the theatre being closed for Christmas, are very disappointed," said Mr Steel.

Jack and the Beanstalk was due to run between 30 November and 8 January at the Essex theatre

Marie Goldman, the council's Liberal Democrat deputy leader, said the government's failure to secure "a good Brexit deal" caused delays in obtaining construction materials.

In a statement, a city council spokesperson said: "Like so many other construction projects right across the country, we've had to contend with the worst delays to supplies and materials we've ever experienced on a project of this kind.

"Add to this all the surprises that have been thrown up by renovation works to two different period buildings, and we sadly find ourselves in a position where we can't guarantee we'll be able to open in time for panto."