Future of vital community hub in doubt, as North Shield's Exchange Theatre set to close
The Exchange theatre is set to lose their home in North Shields, as the building is being taken over by a new operator - and they can't afford to keep on the space
Last updated 24th Mar 2023
A North Tyneside community hub and local theatre is facing closure - as they're set to lose their home next month.
The Exchange Theatre in North Shields began life in 2016 - and has been the setting for local theatre, community workshops and family events ever since.
However, after a new leaseholder has been found, the charity can no longer afford to stay there.
But with nowhere else to go, the theatre is set to close on the 17th April - with staff expected to lose their jobs.
Christine Lee is the general manager of the theatre;
"It really is heartbreaking and I think, when you think about how the last couple of years have unfolded, it's been tough for lots of people, but particularly people in the creative industries - a lot of artists have really struggled."
"We've just circled back to finding these reasons - and articulating these ways - that stories are so important, coming together, being with community and sitting beside somebody while you watch a play..."
North Tyneside Council have issued a statement on the news, with John Sparkes, Director of Regeneration and Economic Development at North Tyneside Council, saying:
"The Exchange is central to delivering our ambitious plans to develop a vibrant 'Cultural Quarter' in North Shields, which will diversify and expand the town centre offer and drive footfall. We recently went to the market to identify an operator through an open tender process.
"Unfortunately, the current operator was not successful, and through the Council's Strategic Property Group a new operator has been identified as Stonebanks Investments. Stonebanks are prepared to invest significantly into the Grade II listed building and grow the cultural offer and support our wider ambitions for the town centre.
"Whilst the Exchange will close for a short period of three to four weeks from 17 April, this will enable the new operator to carry out some investment into the interior of the building in advance of its re-opening. We understand that the new operator is working with the Exchange Theatre Charity to identify opportunities for existing staff to transfer across to the new operator.
"We'll be working closely with the new operator on the transfer of the building and look forward to seeing this cultural landmark flourish in the future."
But Christine tells us the charity as it operates now will not be able to continue under the new leaseholders of the building, and all their staff are currently facing redundancy.
"The sad part, and the thing we know, is that we are closing the doors here - and sadly that means we are making the whole team here redundant as well.
"But we do hope that we'll be able to hang on to all the reasons why we exist, and to use a lot of that energy and experience to find a way forward for the future."
On the website for Stonebanks Investment - the company say;
"Paul Stonebanks and his family have a strong connection to The Exchange, having grown up close to the venue and visited it many times to enjoy theatre performances and meet friends there.
"Paul understands the value that the local community places on The Exchange and the love people feel for the venue.
"When the open tender to operate The Exchange was announced, Paul was keen to bid for the project to ensure the unique character and rich cultural value of The Exchange was not lost.
"Having been successful in this bid, Paul now wants to develop the venue further as a cultural hub and unrivalled asset for the local community.
"We will work very closely with the North Tyneside Council and the North of Tyne Combined Authority to maximise the Cultural and Creative Zone strategy. We will also work with partners to make the zone a shared success.
"It’s worth mentioning that the much needed investment into the external building repairs of late has provided a foundation for its wider success."
They also say:
"What about the existing Exchange Charity?
"We bid for this contract in good faith and with a true desire to help The Exchange become a fantastic, thriving cultural local asset.
"We worked very hard to explore different ways in which we could work closely with the previous custodians of The Exchange – the Exchange Theatre Charity – to keep them in the building. However, despite our best efforts – including the offer of free rent and rates – we could not find a workable solution together.
"We remain open to looking at new ways in which the charity could help us create collective value for the community overall.
Stonebanks Investments say they will hold an open consultation on Friday 28th April, at 2pm at the venue.
Now, the Exchange are reaching out to anyone who has memories or stories about the theatre, its productions and community work, and is asking them to get in touch and share them.
These will be turned into a digital scrapbook - featuring audio recordings, photographs and digital copies of memorabilia.
Christine tells us the reach of the charity is huge throughout North Tyneside, and the North East;
"We find almost everyone in our community - whichever corner of community that is - has a way of connecting with what we're doing at some point in time.
"The whole theatre actually came about because there were people, involved in community theatre, who were looking for spaces to perform and those spaces didn't exist, or it was difficult to find affordable spaces out on the coast,
"And so they ended up moving in here, and creating what became this charity, not just for themselves but for other community groups."
The Theatre will be running as normal until Monday April 17th, with any events which had been booked in after that date either cancelled or - in some cases - moved.
The box office team say they are working to contact all affected ticket holders to process refunds, but ask that people wait to be contacted, as they are a small team.
There is also a leaving party taking place on Saturday 15th April, featuring an open-mic night of spoken word, poetry and music in the café bar.
Well, in the past few days, Equity - the trade union for people in the arts and entertainment industry - have launched a petition, calling on North Tyneside Council to provide more support, and time, for the charity to find a new venue.
In the three days since it was set up, the petition has already reached 700 signatures.
You can find out more about the petition, and how to sign it online.
You can find out more about the Exchange via their website and social media, and people contributing to the digital scrapbook can find more information here, or are encouraged to visit the theatre's café where a book will be open for people to write down memories and stories.