Frustration as two major theatre venues stay shut
Theatre companies have expressed frustration that two major venues are still closed after the discovery of asbestos and crumbling concrete.
The auditorium in the Sands Centre, Carlisle, will be shut until next year and The Forum in Barrow is not due to reopen for two years.
Theatre director David McNeill said there was "something fundamentally wrong" with the time being taken to deal with the situation.
Cumberland Council, which owns the Sands Centre, said it was a difficult decision to postpone more productions, while the Forum, owned by Westmorland and Furness council, previously said the theatre had to remain closed while work was carried out to the Market Hall next door.
It was announced on Tuesday the auditorium in the Sands Centre, Carlisle, would not reopen until next year while the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in the roof was removed.
The removal of approximately 200 tonnes of Raac got under way last year after it was discovered in September 2023.
But January's Storm Éowyn hit a temporary canopy and caused delays to the work.
Meanwhile, The Forum in Barrow is not due to reopen for two years after being closed suddenly in July when asbestos was discovered.
Cumberland Council leader Mark Fryer told BBC Radio Cumbria postponing more shows was a "really, really tough decision" but necessary.
"I mean, a really difficult decision to take but obviously with the Raac concrete problem we've got about 200 tonnes of concrete to take out of the roof and obviously in January we had the storm which has seen the whole roof lift off," he said.
But Mr McNeill, from StagedRight Productions, said this was the third year the Carlisle company's shows have had to move to smaller venues due to the ongoing work at the Sands Centre.
"Young people or old people who want to perform, basically we've robbed them of three years of professional training," Mr McNeill said.
"There's something fundamentally wrong here that we're three years down the line and we're no further to having an arts venue back in Cumbria."
In Barrow, The Forum initially announced the theatre would be shut for six months while the asbestos was removed.
However, the closure was extended by two years while regeneration work was carried out on the adjoining Market Hall.
The theatre said the next phase of work to the hall involved heavy machinery which could lead to areas of safely contained asbestos being disturbed in both venues.
Katherine Parkinson, who runs KS Musicals in the town, said the extended closure had been "very disappointing" and had resulted in reduced profits due to her shows having to be staged in smaller venues.
"I completely understand why it's staying closed, it's just the manner that it's been dealt with hasn't been the best," she said.
"It does feel like the work in the market has taken priority over the work that needs to be done at The Forum."
Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Raac in centre causing theatre group 'huge problems'
Theatre to close for months while asbestos removed
Venue's events season cancelled over roof works
Westmorland and Furness Council
Cumberland Council
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
Scentbird Partners with Broadway's The Picture of Dorian Gray to Launch First-of-Its-Kind Fragrance Capsule Collection Inspired by the Iconic Tale
NEW YORK, June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Scentbird, the premier fragrance subscription service, is excited to announce its partnership with the highly acclaimed Broadway adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray, starring award-winning actress Sarah Snook. The Scentbird x The Picture of Dorian Gray Capsule Collection offers a careful curation of fragrances that bring Oscar Wilde's timeless tale to life through modern scent. Each scent is a portal to transformation, indulgence, and the intoxicating allure of reinvention, paralleling the narrative arc of the play. The result is an immersive olfactory experience that captures the mood, aesthetic, and emotional duality of the production — from decadent sensuality to brooding introspection The partnership reflects a modern and experiential approach from two industries rooted in heritage and tradition. As The Picture of Dorian Gray steps boldly onto the Broadway stage with a lavish and luxurious vision, Scentbird brings its forward-thinking, digital-first energy to the world of prestige fragrance—redefining how culture is experienced through scent. 'Our partnership with The Picture of Dorian Gray is an ode to transformation, indulgence, and duality — all themes at the core of both fragrance and theatre,' said Bettina O'Neill, EVP Business Development & Merchandising, Scentbird. 'This collaboration reflects Scentbird's ongoing commitment to pushing boundaries across art and culture while inviting our community to experience fragrance in entirely new ways.' The Scentbird x The Picture of Dorian Gray Capsule Collection is available to explore now through June 29 exclusively on The curated collection features a luxurious lineup of designers and indie fragrance houses including: To celebrate the partnership, Scentbird is rolling out a series of activations including a social media campaign featuring Broadway fan-favorite creators, including: Fans can also participate in a social giveaway, co-hosted with Rebeka Getty and the official Dorian Gray Instagram account, for a chance to win three fragrances from the Scentbird x The Picture of Dorian Gray Capsule Collection, three Scentbird fragrance cases, and two tickets to see The Picture of Dorian Gray live on Broadway. To explore the capsule collection, visit: About Scentbird Scentbird is the leading fragrance subscription service with over 1 million subscribers, offering customers access to over 900 premium perfumes and colognes from the world's top fragrance houses. With its flexible monthly subscription model, Scentbird allows users to discover new scents at an affordable price, providing them with the opportunity to explore high-end fragrances and find their perfect match. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Scentbird


Geek Tyrant
2 hours ago
- Geek Tyrant
New Rumor Claims Bella Ramsey is Being Considered For Major Role in the MCU — GeekTyrant
Bella Ramsey is best known for their roles in the popular franchises Game of Thrones and The Last of Us , and if the rumors are true, there may be another major franchise association in their future. A new rumor has surfaced from industry scooper MyTimeToShine, stating that Ramsey is being eyed for a 'big Marvel role.' No role or project was mentioned, but fans are beginning to theorize about what it could be. Ramsey will next be seen in the teen dramedy Sunny Dancer , alongside Neil Patrick Harris, James Norton and Jessica Gunning, which is currently in production. Ramsey is also in pre-production on the drama/mystery Harmonia , which will also star Carrie Coon, Odessa Young and Lily James. If this Marvel rumor turns out to be true, who could you see Ramsey taking on in the MCU?


Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
Review: Anoushka Shankar's Spellbinding Finale At Brighton Festival Offers Hope For A New Dawn
Anoushka Shankar Chapter III. Photograph by Claire Leach. Claire Leach Anoushka Shankar brought the Brighton Festival to a breathtaking close on 25th May with a performance that was nothing short of transcendental. Taking to the stage with her visionary new live show, Shankar performed her trilogy of mini-albums–Chapter I: Forever, For Now, Chapter II: How Dark it is Before Dawn, and Chapter III: We Return to Light–in one sweeping, emotionally charged arc. It was a spellbinding evening of music, meaning, and deep emotional resonance. The trilogy–composed and released across two years of global touring–formed the core of an ambitious and experimental project. Each chapter informed the next, not only musically but thematically–tracing a full emotional cycle from the fleeting, sun-dappled joy of Chapter I, to the womb-like introspection of Chapter II, and finally, the radiant, redemptive energy of Chapter III. Together, they formed a powerful meditation on grief, healing, and hope. Anoushka Shankar Chapter III. Photograph by Claire Leach Claire Leach Though Shankar had lost her voice–the result, she explained, of an exuberant Yoko Ono-inspired performance earlier in the festival–the lack of dialogue only heightened the power of the music. After a brief, heartfelt greeting, she let her sitar do the talking, while her ensemble of peerless musicians read from notes she had written. In those words, she shared the deeply personal genesis of the trilogy: the sadness of being unable to help a loved one, the heartbreak of watching a world in conflict, and the fragile but persistent hope for a brighter future. Her sitar became a vessel for that hope—looping, bending, and shimmering through textures that ranged from the meditative to the ecstatic. With 30 years of performance behind her, eleven Grammy nominations, and an Honorary Degree in Music from Oxford University, Shankar has long since proved her technical mastery. But this performance revealed something deeper: a spiritual command of her instrument that borders on the mystical. The ensemble matched her every step with breathtaking sensitivity and virtuosity, moving seamlessly from classical ragas to techno-tinged rhythmic pulses. At moments, the music soared into joyous crescendos that had the audience visibly moved; at others, it descended into intimate stillness, allowing space for reflection. Anoushka Shankar Chapter III. Photograph by Credit Claire Leach. Claire Leach In every note, Shankar expanded the language of the sitar–not by abandoning its roots, but by weaving them into a bold, Indo-futurist soundscape that felt both ancient and utterly new. Shankar's entire aura is filled with a luminous inner light, her black bobbed hair framing a Cleopatra-like visage, and her arms so finely in tune with her sitar that it feels like an extension or her being. The climax of the evening–a euphoric final movement brimming with joy and light — felt less like an ending and more like a beginning: a musical invocation of a 'new dawn,' which also served as the thematic heartbeat of the entire Brighton Festival she so masterfully curated. This was not merely a concert. It was a cathartic, soul-stirring experience that reaffirmed the power of music to hold sorrow, transcend boundaries, and illuminate the path forward. Anoushka Shankar has long been a transformative force in contemporary music–but this performance marked a pinnacle. A swansong, perhaps, to this particular chapter–but also a luminous opening to whatever comes next. And after such a performance, we wait for that next chapter with bated breath, and renewed hope.