Two major Derby projects get go-ahead after Government approves £20 million funding

The entrance to the Guildhall Theatre
-Credit: (Image: Derbyshire Live)


Growing fears that two leading cultural projects in Derby would have to be axed because of a lack of funding have been banished after £20 million of Government funding was finally signed off to allow restoration of the city's Guildhall Theatre and to enable Derby Theatre's redevelopment project to take place.

Although the money had been promised by the previous Conservative government, the final sign-off was not carried out before the General Election in July was called leaving speculation as to whether it would not happen after the incoming Labour government warned that drastic cuts would be needed to shore-up a multi-billion pound blackhole it says it had uncovered.

Half of the funding, £10 million, will go towards bringing the Grade II-listed Guildhall Theatre back into use after it has been closed for five years since part of the ceiling fell down. Further funding has been allocated from Derby City Council’s capital budget, and opportunities for match funding are being explored to carry out the total £25 million restoration work.

READ MORE:9-storey apartment block opposite Derby Cathedral set for approval despite concerns

READ MORE:£75m project to restore derelict historic Friar Gate Goods Yard site begins later this week

Restoration plans for the Guildhall Theatre include a new front-of-house experience with enhanced foyer, as well as a new ground floor café and box office opening onto the Market Place. The auditorium will also be remodelled to increase the venue's seating capacity to around 280.

Back-of-house facilities will also be renovated to make the venue more accessible. A new courtyard will also be included in the works, adjacent to Derby’s historic Market Hall, which is due to re-open in the spring of 2025 following major renovations.

The other half of the £10 million funding will go towards a new accessible and flexible studio theatre adjoining the current building at Derby Theatre in the Derbion shopping centre. In addition, a new learning and research hub will develop further the University of Derby's undergraduate and postgraduate offer to study theatre in a professional setting and give more space to Derby Theatre’s expanding community programme.

The current main auditorium of Derby Theatre
The current main auditorium of Derby Theatre -Credit:Katrine Vavere

Partners Derby City Council, the University of Derby and Derby Theatre will now continue to work to develop their plans for the two buildings.

City council leader, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, said: "It is fantastic news that this much-needed funding has been secured for our city. Now we can look towards restoring one of our historic buildings and create more space for community-led arts groups to perform right in the city’s cultural heart.

Sarah Brigham, chief executive and artistic director of Derby Theatre, added: "These new facilities will enable us to expand and embed our community programmes into the heart of the theatre, become a hot house for artistic talent in the city and develop work which suits a more intimate setting. At a difficult time for artists and cultural venues, we are delighted by this vote of confidence in Derby Theatre.

Her words were backed up by Professor Kathryn Mitchell, vice-chancellor of the University of Derby, who said: "We are delighted that plans to develop Derby Theatre are progressing forwards. The theatre plays a vital role in the creative and cultural ecology of our city and is a key part of our university. As a professional, producing and learning theatre, it provides our students with a unique and valuable opportunity to study alongside professionals."

Concern over the future of culture in the city was heightened when Derby's leading dance centre Deda announced it was entering voluntary liquidation with jobs at risk in mid-August.

It came as Derby Museums Trust, which operates Derby Museum and Art Gallery and the Museum of Making, and the Quad, deal with serious financial difficulties and the £20 million payout promised to the Guildhall Theatre and Derby Theatre appeared to be under threat.

Initially, the £20 million Government money was given to the city council and the University of Derby in January 2023, to develop a replacement Assembly Rooms with a purpose-built learning theatre in the Market Place. But by November 2023, rising costs made the project unviable and it was announced that the money would be reallocated and used to restore and refurbish the Guildhall Theatre and Derby Theatre using £10 million for each venue.

Teams from both organisations worked closely with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities - which has now been replaced with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government following the July General Election and change of government - to finalise arrangements so that work could begin.

The city council told Derbyshire Live in August that as far as it was concerned the situation was unchanged since the July cabinet meeting when it was revealed that plans were being drawn up to repair the Grade II listed Guildhall Theatre, which has been closed since January 2019, but that they could only proceed so far pending a sign-off for the funding from the Government. The Guildhall plan also included additional work to adjoining buildings pushing the cost up to almost £25 million using the additional council capital money.

Derby Theatre had also been drawing up its plans to enhance and improve its building using its half of the money. Notification that the £20 million has been signed off has come quicker than anticipated.

In August, when Derbyshire Live contacted the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to find out what was happening to the funding, it was told: "We understand that local areas are seeking clarification on Levelling Up funding. We will set out further details in due course as part of the spending review."

In July, it was hoped that if the work on the Guildhall Theatre could start this year, then the venue could reopen in time for Christmas 2027.