The fate of a Chatham based theatre, providing acting classes for people with learning difficulties for over 30 years, remains in limbo after access to their carpark could be blocked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A large-scale development plan was put in for 231 flats housed in two six and ten storey blocks on the former Buzz Bingo Hall site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This could mean those who use the council-run Union Place car park, like Spotlites Theatre Company in Chatham High Street, would lose access to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aimee Riddell, co-owner of the performing arts workshop believes that a gaping hole will be left behind once the theatre draws its curtains. She says that they: \u2018play an integral part in the town\u2019s cultural role.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A questionnaire conducted by her husband Kieron Riddell, found that nearly 80% of their students would leave if they lost access to the car park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cllr Vince Maple whilst speaking at a council meeting last night called upon Donard Living, \u2018to think again, otherwise they will have on their hands the potential loss of a much-loved, well-established youth theatre company in Medway.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Riddell is still negotiating with the property developing company, and still needs to arrive at an agreement to ensure the safety of their pupils and to also negotiate a drop off zone for their disabled students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The theatre is still on the mend after the blows in business during the pandemic and now during the cost-of-living crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grace Kendall, a former pupil at the acting workshop said, \u2018they helped me become the person I am today, if it wasn\u2019t for them, I would still be super shy and not be able to speak to people I don\u2019t know well.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The co-founders have set up a GoFundMe page to aid covering the costs to keep the theatre afloat whilst negotiations are in place.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The fate of a Chatham based theatre, providing acting classes for people with learning difficulties…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":1014,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,7],"tags":[29,46,10],"class_list":["post-954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","category-medway","tag-chatham","tag-kent-2","tag-medway"],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n