Hanover Street’s Epstein Theatre is set to close on Friday 30 June 2023 following the end of financial support from Liverpool City Council.

The council owns the freehold of Hanover House (formally known as Crane Buildings), where the threatre is based. The local authority leases the entire building to a commercial property landlord and then sub-leases the Epstein Theatre back from them.

Due to financial pressures on the council’s budget, the deal between the two parties is unsustainable – hence the council’s decision not to renew or extend the current lease, or to offer any further financial support to the operators of the theatre.

Epstein Entertainments Ltd was awarded the contract to operate the Epstein Theatre on behalf of the council in October 2018. In the management agreement, the council covered a proportion of the rent, service charge, utilities, and maintenance work up to this date. Since the 1960’s, the council has always financially supported and subsidised the theatre, currently this figure is in excess of £100,000 per year.

Further requests for council support of £50,000 per year for the next five years have been unsuccessful. The final decision regarding this request was given on Friday 2 June 2023.

Epstein Entertainments Ltd, which is solvent and has been trading profitably, has continually searched for funding opportunities including advice from Arts Council England and investigated alternative company structures. All revenue streams have been maximised and all possible efficiencies have been made.

All productions up until Friday 30 June will go ahead as planned. For all productions after Friday 30 June, Epstein Entertainments Ltd will be aiming to transfer performances to other Liverpool City Region venues.

Ticket holders for cancelled performances will receive an automatic refund.

Chantelle Nolan, artistic and operations director at Epstein Entertainments Ltd, says: “I am truly heartbroken that Epstein Entertainments are having to vacate the beautiful Epstein Theatre in Liverpool city centre.

“Since opening the theatre to the public in December 2021 we have worked tirelessly to make the business a success, but unfortunately with the costs we are now facing, it’s become an impossible task.

“The work required to maintain the theatre to HSE standards and comply with legal requirements have become a severe drain on the company’s finances. Unfortunately, without Liverpool City Council’s support, it impossible to make it a financial success.

“We hope the people of Liverpool appreciate that we have done everything within our power to keep the venue open. Thank you to the audiences for their continued support and I hope one day it will reopen again as a theatre space.”

Bill Elms, artistic and communications director, adds: “This closure is a huge loss for the Liverpool City Region, we are inundated with daily requests from programmers and theatre companies wanting to use the venue. Since we took over, we have worked tirelessly and turned the venue around, from coming out of a pandemic, to playing to over 80% capacity houses but, it’s sadly just not enough.

“The costs to cover the rent, rates, service charges, utility bills, general maintenance, and essential constant upgrades required in the old historic building makes the proposed offer untenable.

“It’s heart-breaking that the theatre is forced to close when there is such positive signs of growth and stability. If it wasn’t for the three-year delay from winning the tender to signing the contract, then I am certain we wouldn’t be in this dreadful position right now.

“It’s a unique venue, an historic gem and a venue that fill’s a huge gap in the current Liverpool theatre landscape as a mid-scale receiving house. We have fought and thought of everything we can to keep the theatre open, right up to the very last minute, but without financial support, the costs are simply unworkable for us, or for any other operator, to work with.”

In the 18 months since the Epstein Theatre reopened in December 2021, it’s played host to almost 150 productions including national award-nominated pantomimes and has welcomed 76,000 audience members through its doors.

The theatre has created 40 jobs, both front of house and behind the scenes, helping to bring alive a wide-ranging programme of high-quality live music, comedy, drama, dance, and family entertainment.

Epstein Entertainments Ltd will continue to consider solutions and explore any further avenues to reopen and preserve this unique and listed theatre.

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