Director leads call to protect theatre

The director of the National Theatre has called for the “special” city venue he got his first start in to be protected in the face of multi-million-pound regeneration work.

Rufus Norris, who is artistic director and joint chief executive of the National Theatre in London, said the Swan Theatre in Worcester must be preserved as preparations continue to build a new arts venue at the former Scala Theatre in Angel Place.

Mr Norris, who began his artistic career in youth productions at the Swan in the 1980s, added to criticism that the new theatre, the centrepiece of Worcester City Council’s £18 million regeneration work, would be unfit for purpose.

“I have to say that I regard the Swan as a special place and the foundation of my artistic life, having started my artistic career there in a number of Swan Youth productions,” he said.

“The Swan has always been and still is a fantastic starting point for a large number of amateur actors who have successfully transitioned to the professional stage.”

Worcester Theatres has already confirmed that it will move from its home at the city’s Swan Theatre to the soon-to-be regenerated Scala Theatre as part of the regeneration work.

Mr Norris, who attended school in Worcestershire, also took a swipe at the ‘inadequate’ facilities proposed by the council at the new Scala Theatre.

The criticism comes after some of the city’s theatre groups denounced the council’s Scala plans for missing important features such as an orchestra pit and storage space for stage sets.

“The council must be congratulated on obtaining a substantial government grant, but I have serious concerns about the viability of the new arts centre in fulfilling the needs of both current amateur groups and professional touring companies,” Mr Norris said.

“I understand that in about every aspect relating to staging, the facilities at the Swan are superior to those proposed and certainly deficient in terms of the needs of professional companies.

“I applaud the aim of regenerating the relevant area of Worcester but surely not by reducing the existing facilities enjoyed by so many over more than 55 years.

“The Swan Theatre must survive, a campaign I wholly support.”