Bradford Playhouse – formerly The Priestley – aims to become a creative hub for the city with a major relaunch.

A new management team has been appointed by the administrators of the theatre complex in Little Germany.

Creative director Jenny Wilson, development director Bev Morton and development manager Sarah Applewhite will oversee the re-branded venue.

While keeping with the independent ethos of The Priestley, the new team intends to make the venue broader in appeal with a new gallery space and comedy and music events in the newly-refurbished cafe bar.

The venture is being funded in part by Arts Council England.

Mrs Wilson said: “We have been working since July to pull the programme together and are trying to put new systems in place.

“We aim to show that the Playhouse can operate profitably as oppose to merely ticking over.

“There will be a number of new aspects. We will continue to provide a home for local theatre but as well as that we want to make the venue relevant to a broader range of people and bring new audiences in.”

To that end the theatre bar will be open each day from 11.30am to 7pm.

“We want to make it a place for people to meet and discuss things, it’s all about letting people know that the Playhouse is still open for business,” said Mrs Wilson.

“We are not trying to compete with the Alhambra, St George’s Hall or the Impressions Gallery but we want to promote local talent and provide a really diverse programme.” The reason for the name change was to signify a new direction for the organisation, she said.

“A Playhouse is literally a house you play in and we want people to come in and have fun,” she said.

“Also, before it was called the Priestley it was known as the Playhouse and many people still know it as that.”

The Priestley came close to closing in 2001 with debts of £14,000, but a campaign by the Telegraph & Argus raised more than £11,000, with Bradford Council adding to the Save The Priestley fund to total £25,000. Then in 2003, the theatre closed briefly after its former board of directors proposed liquidation.

The directors had been struggling for more than a year to find the £60,000 it owed to creditors and further funding to secure its long-term future. A loan of £40,000 coupled with almost £20,000 in private donations saved the theatre.

The theatre company went into administration for the third time shortly before last Christmas.

Launch events at the theatre include:

  • Sunday, September 28: A sale of wardrobe fabrics, 2pm to 5pm.
  • Wednesday, October 1: A schools showcase in partnership with Fabric, including workshops and information for teachers on arts activities for schools, and featuring a performance of rock musical ‘Amoeba-Zebra’.
  • Friday, October 3: Live new music in the Playhouse bar, with bands at ‘The Basement Sessions’ promoted by Rusty Hat between 8pm till late.
  • Saturday, October 4, 8pm till late: ‘FLOCK!’, the launch of Bradford Playhouse’s own professional cabaret and club night.
  • Sunday, October 5: A sale of vintage clothes, some dating back to the Victorian era, between noon and 4pm.