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| Members of the club |
THEY may have fought to get the Palace Theatre's doors open once again to the public, but getting in-house productions back at the venue has proved one fight too far for its guild.
The Palace Theatre Guild has announced its plan to disband. This comes only two and half years after it fought Southend Council's decision to shut the venue, in October 2005.
It was the third time in the theatre's history the curtain had come down with what seemed a resounding finality due to lack of cash.
But thanks to a public outcry, the Palace Theatre Guild was formed by local actors and writers. Not only to protest at the council's decision, but also to fight to secure its long-term future.
The guild even gained the backing of some famous faces, not least Leigh's own Oscar winner, Helen Mirren. She recalled with fondness her early days of treading the boards there.
Champagne corks popped in late 2006 when the announcement came private operator, HQ Theatres, was taking over running the Cliffs Pavilion, as well as reopening the Palace Theatre, in Station Road, Westclif, on behalf of the council.
The guild immediately turned its attention to getting repertory, or in-house productions, back on the stage, and last year ran the first Southend Writers' Competition.
Using professional actors from the newly formed Southend Actor's Guild, a week-long festival of one-act plays was held in the Dixon Studio.
Guild chairman Charles Sharman-Coxsaid: "The guild hoped this would not only be a springboard to further productions, but would also be a platform to attract future arts funding to the venue.
"Unfortunately, following a number of meetings with senior staff from HQ Theatres, the guild has learned the prospect of in-house produced work is not within its current remit."
As a result, the guild has decided to disband. Mr Sharman-Cox said: "Following a committee meeting in May, we decided the need to continue meeting on a regular basis, as has been the case since 2005, no longer applied.
"Instead, the guild will take a watching brief - ready and willing to come out of hibernation to fight on behalf of the Palace Theatre should that need ever arise again."
He added: "The Palace Theatre Guild will always be eternally grateful to HQ Theatres for taking up the mantle of running the Palace Theatre. As such, it will always have our full support for as long as they remain guardians."
Theatre director Ellen McPhillips said: "HQ Theatres wants to express its thanks and appreciation for the support and hard work the guild put into securing the future of the Palace. Many of its efforts were before HQ Theatres became involved.
"However, it is clear the Palace has a much brighter future thanks to the perseverance and dedication of guild members."
Miss McPhillips said the theatre now presents "a balanced programme of quality events as a presenting house". But she insisted there is no place for in-house productions at the Palace, if it is to remain a viable operation.
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