Hollywood film guru David Puttnam today said the closure of the Priestley Centre for the Arts could seriously damage Bradford's bid to be European Capital of Culture.
Lord Puttnam today backed the Telegraph & Argus campaign to save the Priestley Centre, which could be forced to close if this week's production of The Cherry Orchard does not sell out.
The Little Germany theatre needs to raise £10,000 by the end of October to avoid falling into liquidation. Oscar-winning producer Lord Puttnam is chairman of the partnership board set up to prepare Bradford's Capital of Culture bid which must be submitted to the Government by next March.
He said the loss of the Priestley - a nationally recognised theatre which has produced big names like Gorden Kaye and Billie Whitelaw - would have a knock-on effect in Bradford.
"The closure of this historic theatre would represent a very serious loss to the community in Bradford, and is all the more damaging at a time when the city is bidding to be Capital of Culture," the producer of the film Chariots of Fire said.
"It's a hugely valuable community asset, most especially for children and young people. I very much hope a way can be found to ensure its survival."
The threat to Bradford's Capital of Culture bid has been echoed by JB Priestley's son Tom who said: "I don't see how Bradford can realistically bid for it if this theatre closes."
The Priestley's board of directors is having its archive valued, with the view to possibly selling it if the theatre fails to keep its head above water in coming weeks. But the board says there may not be time to sell it before it is forced into voluntary liquidation.
The archive includes a hand-written Priestley script and part of an original Delius manuscript.
Treasurer David Bowles said: "In the end, if push comes to shove, we may have to weigh up how we can keep going and whether this involves selling off the archives.
"I sincerely hope it doesn't come to that. They are our birthright and belong in Bradford."
Mr Bowles said the Priestley's problem was that, unlike other amateur groups, it maintains a full-time venue.
"We don't meet in church halls and put on a handful of productions. We maintain a venue 52 weeks a year, with back-to-back productions," he said.
"We have a lot of overheads. We need grant funding and the Council is the first port of call.
"In fairness to them, we don't fit easily into their funding criteria. But to some extent we're in the same league as larger venues like the Alhambra, which get funding."
Bradford Council's assistant chief executive David Kennedy said: "Unfortunately the centre has been unable to provide a viable business plan, although Council officers have been in talks with them."
News that the Priestley Centre's days could be numbered has sent shockwaves around the community groups that use it and left children at its theatre school in tears.
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