Doomed theatre revived as arts centre

The Swan Theatre will run alongside Huntingdon Hall

Worcester's only theatre, which was facing closure, will become part of an arts centre.

The Swan Theatre will be run alongside Huntingdon Hall as a joint venture.

Chris Jaeger, the director of Huntingdon Hall, in Crowngate, Worcester, is to take over when the theatre re-opens in April.

Mr Jaegar said the two sites will become Huntingdon Arts and will provide the city with a variety of arts and entertainment.

Fighting fund

"We will be able to run different entertainment at different sites such as dance and tribute bands at the theatre because it has a bigger stage," he said.

The board of directors at the Swan Theatre had decided to close the venue at the end of January after Worcester City Council withdrew its support grant of £83,000.

But the council decided to keep the theatre open for amateur and touring groups but will not commission plays.

More than 13,000 people signed a petition against the theatre's closure, and playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn donated money to the theatre's fighting fund.