THE CORE Theatre, forced to close its auditorium for safety reasons due to the discovery of RAAC concrete, has announced it is moving some of its shows, including its pantomime, to Artrix in Bromsgrove.
Planned investigations at the Solihull theatre’s auditorium and stage roof indicated further work needed to take place before the venue could reopen.
Theatre bosses have followed the assessment guidance from the Institute of Structural Engineers and have determined remedial works are needed.
Advice will be taken to agree a suitable remediation programme to establish the next steps, including the potential timescale for the closure.
A spokesperson said the auditorium would remain closed beyond the original timescales and, whilst it was incredibly disappointing, safety was its primary concern.
The theatre is working to move performances due to take place in the auditorium to other spaces in The Core or at alternative venues.
Cutomers are being contacted as and when the shows are moved, rescheduled or cancelled.
One of those venues will be Artrix arts centre in Bromsgrove which has been closed since shutting during the Covid pandemic.
The Core has confirmed several forthcoming performances will take place there, including this year’s much-anticipated Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime which will open in Bromsgrove on December 15.
Existing bookings will be transferred to Artrix. Once the tickets have been reissued, anyone not wanting to attend their relocated performance can contact The Core Box Office for a refund. Tickets, the theatre said, would not be put on general sale until all ticket-holders had been contacted.
A spokesperson for Solihull Borough Council, which runs The Core, said they were delighted to have secured Artrix.
The Core is working closely with the Solihull amateur theatre groups to understand what this would mean for them and their future performances.
And they want people to be aware it is only the theatre auditorium which is affected – the rest of The Core building is open as usual, including the Courtyard Gallery, the Studio, Encore Cafe Bar, Core Creatives, Solihull Connect and The Core Library.
Frequently Asked Questions for ticket-holders
Anyone who has purchased tickets for performances that have been relocated, cancelled or
rescheduled are being contacted by the box office.
The Core has asked people who already hold tickets to ‘bear with them’ as they will be in touch as and when they can.
• My show has been cancelled or moved to a date/venue that I can no longer attend. How can I get a refund?
The Box Office team will be working hard to contact all existing ticket holders. Please wait for them to
contact you and they will let you know your options, including a full refund. Please note, the Box
Office will need to speak to the card holder in order to issue a refund.
• I have tickets for a show in The Core Theatre auditorium in 2024 – will this still go ahead?
The Core does not know how long the auditorium will be closed for. It is currently reviewing forthcoming
performances and ticket holders will be contacted as soon as they have any news regarding the performance.
• My show has been moved to the Artrix. Will I be able to attend on the same date and time?
The Core will contact existing ticket-holders for the pantomime and other performances that are moved to
the Artrix, and look to move people to the same performance date and time.
• My show has been moved to the Artrix. Will I be sat in the same seat?
The seating plan at Artrix is different to that of the Core Theatre auditorium. The Core has vowed to do its best to
locate people in a similar seat to that which they had initially booked. Ticket holders with mobility requirements will also be accommodated.
• My show has been moved to the Artrix. Where is it and what facilities can I expect?
Artrix is located at Slideslow Drive, Bromsgrove B60 1GN. There will be a bar facility with drinks
and snacks available. Baby changing facilities are also available.
• Where can I find out more about what is happening?
The Core will post updates on its website and social media channels when it has more news to share. In the meantime, ticket-holders will be contacted when The Core has more information regarding the performances.
