Derby Playhouse is to be renamed Derby Theatre in a deal between the city council and the University of Derby which will see the council take over programming for the venue.
The deal has been announced after months of negotiations between the University, which has taken over the lease of the venue from the Playhouse’s former artistic director, Stephen Edwards and the city, which has been running its own theatre programme at other venues.
It means the former Playhouse theatre will reopen in September- nearly two years after it closed in December 2007 following a decision by the city council and Arts Council England to withdraw their financial backing.
The theatre’s studio will become a resource for students while the city’s arts and entertainment arm, Derby Live, will be responsible for the main auditorium, producing its own work and inviting touring companies.
Students will also have access to the main stage five times a year. Huw Davies, University of Derby dean of faculty for arts, design and technology, said the university would establish a postgraduate course in theatre production, based at the Derby Theatre. The arrangement would allow students to work in a professional environment, he said.
The move spells the end of the Playhouse’s former board to stage a comeback at the theatre. Jonathan Powers, chair of Derby Playhouse Ltd, said he was disappointed that their bid to take over the programming of the venue had been unsuccessful. Powers said the company would maintain theatre production and planned to remount five productions.