“Steve
You have no idea what you are talking about - read all of the DET Hippodrome stories, or better still read the objection letters and counter proposals on the planning department's website. English Heritage and the Theatres Trust have submitted more letters to this planning application than I have seen on any other application - including St. Helen's House (English Heritage dealt with this case and approved the work)!

When you have spent some time reading the FACTS of this case, then I might listen to something you have based upon these facts. I have been folowing the fortunes/misfortunes of this theatre since 2002 when it was fist sought after as a theatre for the people.
Theatre is sustainable in Derby and this has been stated not by me but by professionals based with National organisations who have studied the Hippodrome situation thoroughly. If you know so much, you should apply for a job with such an organisation.
When it comes down to it neither of our opinions count for much - apart from the fact that mine are based on the facts that have been published by those whose opinion counts for everything.”

“I don't see a need for a car park and I wouldn't have even suggested it.

Meanwhile, nobody here can conjure up a sustainable business plan to support another theatre in Derby, certainly not of the size you propose. It will require more than the whim of niche interest groups and the elite and exclusive productions they wish to attract.

Investors will want to see evidence of a well thought out and sustainable business proposition.”

“Further information may be found on the English Heritage website - however the law states that where it is unavoidable to demolish a listed building it MUST be replaced with something that "provides a great benefit to the cultural and heritage value of the area and is a major benefit to the local residents" and as English Heritage points out in this case, the developer has failed to give any acceptable reason for the need to demolish any part of the Hippodrome and they also point out that a multi storey car park offers no such benefit other than to act as a means of profiting from the public by charging parking fees.
Remember also that the owners, Walkers, were forced by the listed building regulations to spend around £50,000 restoring the terracotta glazed bricks around the base of the building and they spent a considerable amount of money repairing leaks in the roof, this happened in 2004. The balcony was closed off because there was no space for Bingo tables, however the balcony was opened from time to time when Walkers opened up the whole thetre for a performance or had a singing star on stage, something they had been doing for many years up until the time the placed closed as a Bingo Hall.”

“Steve, the Hippodrome is a purpose built theatre, as English Heritage and the theatres Trust state clearly in their letters to the planning committee, the remaining interior is a significant part of the listed building and they will not tolerate further demolition. English Heritage have successfully enforced the rebuilding of a number of listed buildings either completely demolished by developers or seriously damaged by them, they are a statutory government organisation with the powers to do this, they can even call in a council to reverse planning decisions.
Some cities have more than one theatre of Hippodrome's type and era and the Hippodrome is a city centre building, right at the heart of a currently failing sector that desperately needs something like a theatre to revive it.
I have all the information to hand and you can find out the facts by looking up the Derby Hippodrome website.
As to your comments about finding an alternative use, what a car park? Did you know that there are over 2,000 unused car parking spaces within 200 metres of this site? Even the Colyear Street multi-storey car park (about 100 metres away) has 226 spaces and does not fill up with cars.
Yet we do not have sufficient theatre space to attract the musicals and touring companies that other citiees attract. The Assembly Rooms was never designed or intended to be a theatre and the Guildhall Theatre was a Council Chamber until the early 1970s - but makes a nice small venue with very limited seating and access. I have seen the proposed plans for the Hippodrome as a theatre, and they are exceptional, just what Derby needs.
As to comments about wht does the"legal owner" of the property have to say? well he is in court next February charged with carrying out unauthorised work to a grade 2 listed building and could end up in jail. He could very well be forced to carry out a full restoration of the building and the Council has the power to force him to do this.
Buildings are listed for a purpose, if they weren't we would have lost most of Derby by now and other cities like Bath, York and Oxford would have changed - all ending up looking like an Eastern Communist state with their grey concrete towers.
We have a heritage that is the envy of the world and we must do all we can to preserve it.
I suppose though that Derby Live might find it interesting to put plays on at all of the city's car parks - it would be different!”

“It strikes me that if the paticipants in this forum talked to, and not at each other much common ground would be established. May I sugest either Christopher or Steve produce (better still colaborate on) a tick-list or survey to guage what they a) do agree on b) don't agree on and finally those areas where compromise may be achieved. I realy feel that a concencus of some sort could be arrived at by just accepting where we are now and not forever playing the blame-game of past errors. and slights. joyce of eastwood could also join in with her mentor but only if they stick to the point and don't keep wandering off down memory lane to the days when the sun always shone, policemen were older and theatres had queues around the block. There is a great deal of good to be had from an open dialogue but only if we are prepared to listen to others.”

“I think we are all agreed that the Hippodrome carcass needs to be demolished - that's a given. But to replace it with a car park is a mistake - the space would be much more suitable for a halfway house or bail hostel.”

“Oh dear.

Yes, I know what a fly tower is. I was merely attempting to inject some light-hearted narrative to break up your heavy handed monologue, Christopher.

The fact remains that Derby isn't London. Nottingham and Leicester are already well served with a range of theatres. Birmingham and Sheffield are around 30-40 miles away. Derby is already served by a theatre and other arts performance venues. I am not saying that there shouldn't be another theatre. If there is, it deserves more than the fanciful imagination and financial ineptitude of a minority of people who are intent on rebuilding a mausoleum for their lost, niche interests. By this I mean the exclusive, experimental productions you really want to see, but won't admit to, which could easily be housed in a corner of the Assembly Rooms. These are not the mainstream and populist theatre productions you refer to (I suspect as leverage for your cause), which I agree, would attract audiences and deserves a large auditoreum. You should be clear about your interests.

Could you not support the restoration but think of a better use for the building? I don't want to see another empty and derelict building in Derby.

Joyce; I'm positively quaking. I eagerly await the return your benevolent but misguided keeper.”

“Has anyone asked the buildings legal owner about these plans?
Surely without his/her consent, how can it be restored”

“I like some of the things Christopher said...
Interestingly enough he tried to get a ticket for "Moon Landing" and the theatre was full.....
due in his and many other peoples idea was the building of the "Westfield" centre.....
That idea was shot down in flames by Bully bloggers at the time....
So it was good to have someone on the DET who felt the same way those trying to keep the now defunct PLayhouse.....it was called an "excuse" at the time....

It wont be long till we see the harvest of shows begining at the "New Derby Theatre"......
I wish the Hippo well and there is room for another "Theatre" in Derby...I seem to remember Notts have 4 venues ?
I reckon Steve that if Derby has no major theatre, then it should have one...
Who funds the Theatre Royal ?
Who funds the Royal concert hall ? who funds the Arena ?
lastly who funds the Notts Playhouse ?
we know the answer to the latter....same way as Derby PLayhouse...NCC and the ACE...its always been that way...differnce being Notts CC and the East midlands ACE have kept faith with the theatre in Notts, they havent "Pulled the plug" like the DCC did...
ITs a larger area than Derby, but how many people travel to |Notts to see Great theatre ?
Possibly as many people from all over the UK. to see productions at the DerbY playhouse.....
Get you fingers flipping ready Steve....you'll no doubt shoot me down in flames, but your old adversary will bw back soon...so be afraid...be very afraid !!!!!! Joyce..the one and only....”

“Firstly what evidence have you that Derby does not need a theatre?
Robert Lindsay has only recently announced that he would like to bring a West End show to Derby and if you look up some of the figures on theatre and how many people travel FROM Derby to Nottingham, Buxton and Birmingham with the express purpose of seeing a show, a play or other theatrical performance you will get some idea of how much potential revenue our city is missing out on.
There is another fact to consider here as well, Derby is the ONLY major city WITHOUT a full sized theatre building (not a conference or Concert Hall).
Do not judge the trend towards theatre by your own belief that theatre is only enjoyed by a "small niche interest" group - Buxton makes in excess of £25 Million per year out of its Opera House and Pavilion Gardens and the fact that it is now seen as the Festival Capital of the UK! - Over 40 million people watched the "Britain's Got Talent" series and as a result, Variety Theatre is making a big come back - hardly what I would call a "Small Niche Interest Group"
The Hackney Empire in London, the venue for the above TV show was once in danger of demolition - part of it was demolished without consent by its owner/developer - thanks to the efforts of local people the theatre was rebuilt and is now a highly profitable and a key London venue. The Hackney Empire had all its critics, like yourself, who were all proved wrong. If you look at the facts behind the Playhouse they had many highly successful productions but the closure due to Westfield did not help. I tried to get tickets to Moon Landing but the seats were all booked up on the only night I had free - if they had more seats the ticket costs could have been cut and more people would have had access to the show.

Your comment of "Flying facilities" and "Airport" (though not an intelligent comment I however suspect you were being sarcastic in this case! make it clear that you know absolutely nothing about theatre buildings - Flying facilities that is a Fly Tower is used for lifting and lowering scenery as well as actors "flying" around the stage in things like pantos and is an essential component part of a theatre. The Playhouse does not have such facilities”