Northamptonshire theatre at risk of closure

A theatre in Northamptonshire is under threat of closure after being deemed as no longer financially viable by its operators.

Kettering’s Lighthouse Theatre is part of KLV complex, which also includes Kettering Conference Centre, a gym and a sports arena. 

According to local press, the complex is sublet to Compass Group Services, which has made the decision to close the site due to rising costs. The leaseholders remain North Northamptonshire Council, who pay an £1 annual peppercorn rent.

The complex was originally set to close at the end of May, before the date was pushed back until 3 July to give more time for alternative solutions to be found.

Meanwhile, a petition to save the complex has reached almost 15,000 signatures.
 
The theatre’s imminent closure comes after it was awarded Northamptonshire’s best theatre and arts venue in the 2023 Muddy Stilettos Awards earlier this week.

“It’s the best theatre or arts venue in the county but with just three weeks to go they’re still looking to close it,” said Mike Balderson, who launched the petition.

“It just seems to be madness.”

Campaigners are calling for North Northamptonshire Council or a management company to step in, but Council Leader Jason Smithers said in a public meeting in May that he could not promise any extra money to bail out the complex on top of the £337,000 a year the council currently splits between the theatre and indoor sports courts.