Theatre companies eye Ayr Gaiety Theatre

Dec 19 2008 by Cheryl McEvoy

THEATRE companies are lining up to run Ayr Gaiety.

And council chiefs say they will meet with some of them this week.

The move comes after they were blasted for failing to respond to an offer to run the closure threatened theatre by the Glasgow Pavilion.

Theatre boss Iain Gordon revealed that he planned to renew the historic connection between the Gaiety and Glasgow Pavilion.

But he claimed his bid has fallen foul of South Ayrshire officials, who he says have ignored his calls and emails.

Mr Gordon has been the general manager at the highly successful Pavilion for 30 years.

It is owned by George Martin, who also owns the Fairfield Hotel in Ayr.

He explained that they met with officials in the summer with a proposal to take over the struggling Gaiety.

He said: “We can see the potential in the Gaiety and we offered to take over the running of it at no cost to the council.

“I’ve been putting on shows at the Pavilion for 30 years and I was willing to bring that experience to the Gaiety.

“Many of the shows at the Pavilion would transfer to the Gaiety quite easily.

“The Fairfield would provide the catering for the theatre. Again the Gaiety would benefit from the experience and skills there.”

The Gaiety was owned and run by Glasgow Pavilion Theatre Ltd between 1965 and 1973, when it was sold to Ayr County Council.

He added: “When we first put our proposal to council officials we were treated like the saviours of the Gaiety. But all of a sudden that changed.

“I tried to get a hold of the official we were dealing with 10 times on the phone and I sent him several emails. They all went unanswered.

“It doesn’t make sense.”

Just last week, supporters of the town centre theatre appealed to the community to rally to save it after it was revealed that it will close for £4.5m worth of essential repairs.

They believe it is unlikely that the money will be available from council coffers and that the Gaiety will never reopen.

Mr Gordon has already set up a Save Ayr Gaiety page on the Pavilion website. His effort has the full backing of Equity, the Scottish Music Hall and Variety Theatre Society and the Theatre Trust.

However, council leader Hugh Hunter told the Post on Tuesday that talks will take place this week with interested parties.

He said: “Our position hasn’t changed and we are still happy to talk with Mr Gordon as well as other parties that have expressed an interest in the Gaiety.

“We have meetings arranged for this week with a couple of them. And Mr Gordon is not available until after Christmas but we will meet with him in January.”

He added: “But no one can get away from the fact that the Gaiety needs millions of pounds spending on it to meet health and safety requirements.

“How those interested propose to address this must be part of the discussions that we have with them.”

Ayrshire Arts Network will hold a public meeting at the Old Trinity Church Hall, Ayr, on Wednesday, January 14, at 5pm.

Anyone with an interest in the Gaiety is invited to attend.