Hastings: White Rock Theatre taken over by charity trust

The White Rock Theatre is one of the largest and most historic venues in Sussex

A trust has taken over the running of a seafront theatre in East Sussex.

The Guildhall Trust took over the 1,000-seater White Rock Theatre in Hastings on Thursday, saying it will develop the venue's appeal.

The theatre's website says the trust has "exciting plans" for the site which will see a "a broader programme of entertainment".

Hastings Borough Council, which owns the site, previously said the move "secured" the theatre's future.

The trust says its vision is to "develop White Rock Theatre and its programme and to work collaboratively with local partners to ensure engagement with the cultural ecosystem".

The trust says it will also be investing in a "superior" PA system which will "make the venue more attractive to some of the bigger music promoters".

Five-year plan

Plans are also in place to develop the theatre's studio into an active performance and community space.

"We will be developing a five-year plan to identify how we want to develop the venue and programme, and as a charity, there will be opportunities to fundraise to support this," a trust spokesperson added.

Trafalgar Theatres had run the site, which was built in 1927, for the past 15 years.

Independent councillor from Hastings Borough Council Andy Batsford previously said: "They have some exciting plans to take the theatre forward and their experience shows they can deliver the vision we have."

The theatre's venue director Nadine Passley added: "We're really excited about the changes and what's to come."

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