A member of the Priestley Centre for the Arts is setting up a group of performers and technicians from the theatre so they can continue performing if it closes.

Karl Dallas, pictured, is holding a meeting on Thursday for the Priestley's actors and technical staff and said if the theatre does not continue they could perform in other venues such as pubs and church halls. The group will be called the Priestley Players.

"I just don't want Bradford to lose the Priestley's pool of skilled performers and technicians," said Mr Dallas, a long-term Priestley Centre member and a former chairman of Bradford Community Health Council. "A new group will enable those who have devoted so much of their life to drama - and those with the technical expertise that so often goes unrecognised - to continue with performances.

"I hope it will also become a channel for new writers. There's a lot of writing talent in Bradford but there needs to be a proper channel for it.

"I'm very hopeful that a way out of this mess can be achieved and that there will be a way forward for the Priestley. There is more than one strategy for it to continue.

"But, if it does close, we as a group could perform at other theatres and places like pubs, church halls and even outdoor venues."

Mr Dallas said news that the Priestley Centre is to cease trading on January 20 and the limited company running it will go into voluntary liquidation, has forced one of its long-running groups to re-locate.

The Interchange Bradford Writers Network, comprising writers, poets and songwriters, is now holding its next meeting in The Goldsborough pub in Bolton Road, Bradford, on Tuesday, February 4.

"We have been meeting in the Priestley bar for ten years. It's one of the nicest bars in Bradford and a great venue for performing written work," said Mr Dallas.

"It will be a great loss to the city if it goes."

The meeting for performers and technicians will be at the Priestley Centre, Chapel Street, Little Germany, on Thursday at 8.30pm.