Published: Friday, 8th August 2025
Independent experts have categorically ruled out a bid by a local group to run the Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock.
A report into the business plan put forward by Cannock Chase Theatre Trust (CCTT) to run the Prince of Wales Theatre said it lacked “operational detail, audience focus and financial realism” and presented an ambition without ‘viable delivery mechanisms.’
In the 49-page report, SLC, industry leading advisors in leisure, active wellbeing and culture to the public sector, said: “CCTT’s proposal reflects commendable community ambition and intent” but goes on to say it did not “provide the level of financial assurance, operational planning, or delivery capability required for a sustainable transfer.”
It also said the evaluation identified both “critical shortcomings and evidence gaps.”
The theatre is currently closed while regeneration work is taking place in the town centre. The report will be discussed by the council’s cabinet next month and recommends they do not proceed with a Community Asset Transfer of the Prince of Wales Theatre.
The theatre was originally earmarked for closure last year to reduce a potential £1.3m gap in the council budget - and help safeguard statutory services to the public. Maintaining the building would also require a more than £2 million investment over the next three years.
The cabinet will hear it was important that any proposal could demonstrate through an evaluation process that the theatre could be run sustainably, without subsidy from the local authority, for the benefit of the local community.
CCTT were the only group to submit a completed proposal - although another interested party pulled out during the process as they did not think running the Prince of Wales Theatre independently of the council would be financially viable.
Leader of Cannock Chase District Council, Tony Johnson, said he was disappointed to hear the ‘Trust’ proposals could not be taken further.
“I know how much work and enthusiasm the people behind CCTT put into this and I, like thousands of others, was desperate for them to succeed and give us a viable plan we could support which would see the PoW reopen and thrive.
“This has been one of the most difficult and challenging issues I have had to face as a councillor and as leader of the council. But it would be reckless and irresponsible for us to ignore this thorough independent report by industry leading experts. We are being asked to invest millions of tax payers money in refurbishing the theatre and risk leaving the council exposed to a potentially crippling financial burden if the Trust cannot break even.”
The proposal was given the lowest score in key areas - such as financing the project and the vision to operate the Theatre - which means there was ‘Significant omissions from the bid’ and ‘Little or no understanding of the Council’s Priority Outcome’ - which automatically resulted in the application being rejected.
The SLC report is available at https://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/council/prince-wales-theatre
Future plans for the theatre building will be discussed as part of the major regeneration of Cannock town centre which has been attracting significant interest from developers.