Published: Friday, 5th September 2025
Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet has decided not to move forward with the proposed Community Asset Transfer of the Prince of Wales Theatre to Cannock Chase Theatre Trust (CCTT), following a discussion at last night’s meeting.
The decision was based on an independent expert report which concluded that the proposal was not financially viable and did not demonstrate the necessary financial security, operational planning, or delivery capacity required to ensure a sustainable transfer.
Deputy Leader, Councillor David Williams, said: “We all want to see the Prince of Wales Theatre open again. Nobody wants to see it close—least of all me. The passion and commitment shown by Cannock Chase Theatre Trust was clear, but unfortunately passion alone cannot make a business model viable. This was an extremely difficult decision for us to make.”
The report is available at https://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/council/prince-wales-theatre
The future of the theatre building will be considered within the wider regeneration plans for Cannock town centre.