Mill theatre to remain closed until end of June

02/04/2024

More extensive repair work and future-proofing is needed

Work to repair the theatre at the Mill Arts Centre is likely to take another three months to complete.   Alternative arrangements are now being made for all productions scheduled in the auditorium until the end of June.

There have already been a number of extensions to what was initially envisaged as a two-week closure at the end of January.   Most recently performances up to April 14 were rescheduled, moved elsewhere or cancelled.

Staff initially believed a localised repair would be needed due to the water damage caused by flooding around The Mill at the start of the year.   Since then further inspections have revealed more extensive works are required, not only to fix the damage to the auditorium floor but to future-proof against the issue happening again.

The Mill Arts Centre building is owned by Oxfordshire County Council, whose insurers are progressing the repairs.

With repairs now expected to take another three months alternative arrangements are now being made for all auditorium events until the end of June.   Where possible performances are being relocated or rescheduled and The Mill is hoping to soon share details of a temporary performance space in Banbury whilst the auditorium remains out of action.

Chief Executive at The Mill, Andrew Lister, , said: “We are enormously grateful for the patience and support of our audiences whilst our team are undertaking the mammoth task of trying to make alternative arrangements for each individual show – our auditorium may be temporarily out of action, but we will be doing everything we can to go ahead with as many of the affected shows as possible, albeit at a different time or place.

“Furthermore we are working closely with our landlords to ensure that we have the auditorium back up and running so we can welcome audiences back through our doors and enjoying live performance again just as soon as possible.”

Whilst the theatre is out of action other areas in the Mill, including the Café Bar and rooms with programmes of creative classes and workshops, are open as normal.


Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam

Reader's opinions
  1. Sophie Hodkinson   On   02/04/2024 at 5:40 pm

    I’m due to attend the mill on the 3,06 24 to watch tony Stockwell will this to be rescheduled again?

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