Campaign to save the Jubilee Theatre

The Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust is currently considering a recommendation that all users of the Jubilee Theatre should be served with notices to quit in the theatre so that it can be adapted for other, non-theatrical uses - probably as office space!

We believe that if the beautiful, fully-equipped and well-used Jubilee Theatre were to be modified for any other purpose and closed its doors to the public for ever, it would be a disaster - not only for the young people who currently make use of it or the audiences who visit it, but also for the city, its cultural assets and its heritage.

In 1992 First Act Theatre was invited by the Trust to move from the Tyne Theatre and become the resident theatre company in the Jubilee Theatre.

The Jubilee Theatre is an historic Grade 2 listed Victorian theatre, with stage arch tiling of huge significance, which, prior to 1992, was being used as warehousing. In the 16 years that First Act Theatre has been in the theatre we have invested in the fabric of the building, which is now recognised as being one of the best equipped community theatres in the region.

First Act has helped to challenge the stigma about mental health by bringing in audiences of over 60,000 into the hospital to see shows in the Jubilee Theatre - through our own productions and by supporting hires of the theatre with our equipment and expertise.

We have provided drama and technical training with hundreds of workshops and performance opportunities. We have staged over 60 shows and over 3,500 young people between the ages of 7 and 19 have been able to develop confidence, self-esteem, team-working and skills for life - and in some cases they have achieved national recognition through stage, television and cinema.

In July 2008 we formally asked the Board of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust to retain the Jubilee Theatre as a community resource. We have now presented an 832 signature petition - together with the many letters of support from our friends and supporters - which we hope will persuade the Trust to reconsider their options for the future use of the Jubilee Theatre.

Although the petition is officially closed, please feel free to keep signing it, as this will serve to demonstrate the continued support for the campaign.

13th August 2008