Coleen Rooney has issued a plea to save the Epstein Theatre.
Earlier this month, it was announced that Liverpool City Council’s financial support which sustained the arts venue was coming to an end. The decision means the theatre will host its final show on Friday June 30 before the curtain comes down on more than a century of performances.
The theatre is open until 11pm tonight and people are being asked to attend to share memories. Coleen has taken to Instagram to urge people to act to save the Grade II listed theatre.
READ MORE: ‘Fight not over’ as curtain to come down on Epstein Theatre
She shared a link to a petition to call on the council to continue their financial support alongside the caption: "Such sad news. Some lovely memories here. Please help and sign the petition."
The petition to save the theatre has received 12,989 signatures at the time of publication and has a goal to hit 15,000. The Epstein Theatre's closure stems from a decision surrounding the management agreement between Epstein Entertainments Ltd, Liverpool City Council and a commercial property landlord which owns the lease to the building but sub-leases the theatre back to the entertainment company.
Commenting on the closure earlier this month, a spokesperson for Liverpool City Council said: “It was decided in 2021 that the cost of more than £100,000 a year in financial support for the Epstein Theatre was unsustainable and, after careful consideration, both the landlord and theatre operator were informed that the Council would be unable to continue this beyond 2023.
“That was not an easy decision. The Council is a huge supporter of the city’s cultural sector and continues to annually invest millions of pounds supporting dozens of venues and organisations, but that support needs to deliver value for money for the tax payer.
“The Council paid for the Epstein Theatre’s restoration and has supported it on an annual basis since 2011. It was hoped that given both the operator and landlord had had more than 18 months to negotiate a new lease arrangement, an amicable solution would be found, between the two parties. It is a huge shame that has not materialised.”
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