The curtain will fall for the last time at the Priestley Centre for the Arts on January 20 after a long battle to save the beleaguered theatre.

The forerunner of the theatre started life in 1901 as a group of players meeting in JB Priestley's step-sister Winnie's parlour before becoming part of Leeds Playhouse.

In 1929 the group broke away and moved into the Little Germany Theatre - then called the Civic.

After a fire in 1935 it became Bradford Playhouse and Film Theatre.

But after being hit by a second devastating fire in 1996, the theatre reopened as the Priestley Centre for the Arts.

JB Priestley, a founder of the Civic and its first president, supported the theatre until his death in 1984. His plays have continued to be staged there - but audiences have fast dwindled.

Many famous actors started their careers at the Priestley, including Billie Whitelaw, Bernard Hepton, Gorden Kaye and George Layton.

The centre has a wealth of archive material dating back centuries, which reveal not only an insight into J B Priestley's life, but into social change over the years.

It includes an original Priestley play, his diaries, part of a manuscript by Bradford composer Delius and military hats worn during the Battle of Trafalgar.

Every production at the theatre has been photographed and meticulously recorded, along with every review including Telegraph & Argus cuttings dating back to 1920.

But the production Quartet on January 20 will be a poignant end to the Priestley Centre for the Arts because it is based on a "golden oldie" theme and some of the longest serving members are in its cast.

Chairman of the board Glenn Boldy said: "It would be nice if past friends were among the audience on that last occasion."

Mr Boldy has been involved with the centre for 20 years and said thousands of youngsters had learned a lot from the theatre.

He said: "I was interested in theatre school and my school teacher was a member of the Civic Playhouse. I am representative of a lot of youngsters coming from working class families who benefited. It is a great shame for Bradford that it will no longer be there to help them find their feet."

Mr Boldy said he believed the Priestley Centre would still be thriving if it was based in the vibrant West End of the city, but it was in the wrong place.

In a letter which went to members today he said: "It has always been the opinion of your board that the way forward was to professionalise the administration of the arts centre.

"To do this we would need full time professionals who could drive forward our plans. To implement this would take a serious injection of funding. In our discussions with the Council we were not successful in obtaining a commitment to fund those positions.

"Perhaps most important of all, it has become clear to us that our location and the issues of crime and lack of progress with the regeneration of our immediate area, and Eastbrook Hall in particular, have been a major factor in discouraging paying customers from the venue.

"You will be aware that we have been paying for security patrols to deter car crime. This has brought some success in keeping what little - although very loyal - audience we have left."

He thanked the board and members for their dedicated support.

"Thank you also to the people of Bradford who will, I am sure, remember the Priestley with much affection. What we have is a wealth of wonderful memories, the lights may go out and the theatre go dark, but the creative spark of the human spirit will never be extinguished."

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