Asbestos-hit theatre placed on at-risk register

7 hours ago

The Forum in Barrow is due to be knocked down in the coming months

Google The Forum in Barrow-in-Furness has a brutalist vibe but is made of brick, tiles and glass with wood cladding near the flat roof. It has its name over the glass doors and windows. Either side, in the same font, lower case letters and on the same sort of background it reads arts and entertainment on the left and theatre cafe and bar on the right. There is a triangular roof above the main door. A couple of people, a distance from each other, are walking along the pavement in front. — The Forum in Barrow is due to be knocked down in the coming months

A theatre closed for two years and earmarked for demolition after asbestos was discovered has been added to a national at-risk register.

The Forum in Barrow-in-Furness is set to be knocked down in the coming months, along with the adjoining Market Hall building, in a multimillion-pound redevelopment of the town centre.

Theatres Trust, an advocacy body for UK venues, has called for a "firm commitment" that a new performance space will be constructed as part of that regeneration work.

Westmorland and Furness Council instead said new venues "will be central" to talks on the town's future and that it has "ambitions" to create cultural spaces.

An initial six-month closure of the theatre was announced when asbestos was found in the backstage area in July 2024.

That timescale was extended before, in February this year, the local authority declared the Forum and Market Hall had reached "the end of life".

The following month a contractor was appointed to oversee demolition.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in March to call for guarantees on a replacement for The Forum

John Edwards A crowd of people standing outside The Forum. One woman in the foreground is holding a carboard sign on a stick reading "Vive le theatre". Other members of the group of protestors carry placards. — Hundreds of protesters gathered in March to call for guarantees on a replacement for The Forum

Claire Appleby, head of theatre buildings at Theatres Trust, said: "The Forum's website continues to sell tickets for performances in alternative spaces around the town, but they're not properly equipped theatre spaces and really limit what can be programmed.

"We know there is an ambition for a cultural space. That is slightly different from a theatre.

"We have to make sure the people of Barrow get a venue that can host professional theatre and live entertainment, as well as be a space for amateur players."

She said the trust had met with the area's Labour MP Michelle Scrogham and the Liberal Democrat-controlled council, with further discussions likely.

The council said the Theatres Trust's "hopes and ambitions very much match our own and reflect the community and partner feedback we've already received".

It added it had "ambitions to develop new cultural facilities" as part of the town centre regeneration.

"We will be consulting with the community as these plans are refined and new cultural venues will be central to these discussions.''