The battle is on to save the historic Priestley Theatre after it emerged it has hit a major financial crisis - for the third time.

Although efforts are being made to ensure the Christmas season of the popular theatre in Little Germany, Bradford, is saved, the immediate future of the venue, which dates back to the 1930s, is unsure beyond that.

Administrators stepped in yesterday when it became apparent the financial struggles being faced by the theatre were becoming too much.

A new management team is being sought and a complete overhaul of the finances of the Priestley is now being looked at. Julian Pitts of Begbies Traynor, the administrators, said: "The Priestley has made a tremendous contribution to the arts in Bradford over many years. It is in constant use by schools and arts groups with studio, workshops and a bar, all popular with local people.

"It is run on a voluntary basis and has struggled financially since grant funds ceased some years ago. However, it is fundamentally sound and, therefore, we are hoping to secure its future by attracting new management and restructuring finances."

Former managing director of the theatre John Tempest said: "Everyone at the Priestley has worked long and hard for the last five years to ensure it remained open.

"It is indeed sad that adverse trading conditions have seen a downturn in its fortunes, but I am sure it can be rescued by someone with a business-like and common sense approach as well as having a social conscience.

"Fortunately, in years to come when people look back, this will be seen as a blip' in the long term history of the Priestley and I am confident as to its future."

According to the theatre's current management the Christmas programme will continue as billed but the future for next year remains uncertain.

Chairman of the Priestley Tom Sandford said: "The Theatre remains open and is hosting a number of performances in the run up to Christmas. It also has a busy season planned for the new year. Seasonal highlights include Dracula Spectacular, Pieces of Pinter, Frost and Fire and Pinocchio.

"Whilst the administrators carry out their work, it is very much business as usual, continuing the theatre's long tradition at the centre of Bradford's arts community."

The Priestley has its origins in the early 1930s when the Bradford Civic Theatre was founded as a branch of the Leeds Civic Theatre. It changed its name to Bradford Playhouse & Theatre in the late 1950s and was re-named The Priestley Centre for the Arts in the mid 1990s after the building was refurbished following a serious fire which threatened to destroy the premises.

Bradford author JB Priestley was the first honorary president of the company. His son Tom Priestley is the current president.

In 2001 the Priestley Centre came close to closing with debts of £14,000. The Telegraph & Argus launched a Save the Priestley' campaign which raised over £11,000 from readers. That money was added to by Bradford Council to reach a total sum in the region of £25,000.

In January 2003 The Priestley closed for business after its former board of directors proposed to go into liquidation.

The theatre, a registered charity, had struggled for 14 months to find around £60,000 it owed to creditors and further funding to secure its long-term future. Mr Sandford and a new board took out a loan of £40,000 coupled with almost £20,000 in private donations.

Mr Sandford was elected chairman of the new board and got down to the business of bringing JB Priestley's beloved little theatre back to life.

In 2005 the Theatre made a scant profit of under £5,000, the first time it had done so for almost a decade.

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