Derry theatre faces financial hit over temporary closure

The temporary closure of Derry’s Millennium Forum to major shows puts it on the “back foot” financially, its chief executive has told local councillors said.

The 1,000-seat entertainment complex will close its doors to the public for seven weeks later this year to allow ongoing public realm works in Derry city centre.

Work on Derry’s £5m public realm scheme got under way last year and is due to continue for 18 months.

The work will block the area used by large-scale productions to unload equipment and stage sets, meaning the theatre cannot put on shows or gigs between June 27 and August 18.

Chief executive David McLaughlin said the theatre will have no income over the summer and has lost out on “a number of large-scale productions”.

“It is going to cause us problems,” he told a Derry City and Strabane Council committee on Tuesday.

“We don’t know where we will stand from a profit and loss point of view.

“We have a wage bill, which across the year works out about £26,000 per week – for those six or seven weeks we won’t have any income coming in, we need to try to balance that off.”

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme, Judith O’Hare of the Derry Musical Society said the summer closure is “very disappointing”.

“It is a wonderful venue and we are very fortunate to have it here in the city.

“It is very disappointing for people who come, maybe on holidays or visiting, that there is no local entertainment,” she said.

Tags: