Battle to bring the arts back to historic northern venue
THE CIVIC is one of Barnsley’s most recognised and historic venues, but it’s also proved to be one of its most troublesome in recent times.
A Grade II listed building, The Civic has been part of the fabric of the town since 1877. During the 1960s it attracted some of the biggest names in showbusiness, with the likes of Charlie Williams and Ken Dodd regular performers there.
The Theatre closed in the late 90s after falling on hard times and remained shut for just over a decade. When it reopened in 2009 following an £19m redevelopment it was supposed to usher in a new era.
However, the cost of essential structural work was far higher than had been anticipated so when it finally reopened a third of the building was left unfinished and remains unused.
This effectively divided The Civic in two – the historic front of the building which now consists of offices and the modern extension at the back which is home to a gallery and theatre space.
The Civic was given over in Trust to the charity, Barnsley Civic Enterprise Ltd, and with the recession then in full force, it had to adapt to its circumstances and make the venue work in its current form.
In March this year it launched a £5m fundraising campaign to open up the whole building, add a new theatre, café, and extended gallery, to help it become a world class arts venue by 2023.
The campaign has some highprofile backers including Sir Michael Parkinson, ballerina Tala Lee-Turton and hairdresser to the stars, Andrew Barton. Now Barnsley-born Dame Jenni Murray has become its new champion.
The radio presenter, who celebrates 30 years with Woman’s Hour this year, spends much of her time in London but says the influence of her home town still resonates deeply.
Murray believes access to the arts in towns like Barnsley is crucial. “The arts are just vital and access to them is incredibly important,” she says.
“My memories of the Civic are going there to see musicals with my mother, and she would tell stories that she remembered from her childhood.
“I was very lucky because my mother was very worried that I’d have a broad Yorkshire accent. She sent me to elocution lessons, I think I was five when I started, which was quite young to be taught posh.
“And the teacher that I went to was a speech and drama teacher, and she would take us to Leeds and to Sheffield when the big companies toured from London.”
She remembers the impact this had on her. “I saw Laurence Olivier – all the great actors of the time – we went to the Sheffield Playhouse regularly and we went to music concerts too.
“I had that range of culture, right down to going to Locke Park in Barnsley where they hosted an open air musical every summer, so you saw Oklahoma or Seven Brides for Seven Brothers perform.
“That formed the basis of my life really. I went on to study French and Drama (at Hull University), and it’s given me my career.
“It’s absolutely vital that we consider the arts every bit as important as the sciences.”
The Civic’s patron, Sir Michael Parkinson, recently spoke about his support of its fundraising campaign to bring the building back to its former glory.
“Barnsley sits there and it’s vulnerable, and what it deserves, and what these areas didn’t get was an adequate replacement for the pits.”
He says the town, and communities like it across the North of England, were “dying on their feet”.
Which is why art and culture can play such an important role in their revival. “They need something to aspire to. Arts, music particularly, are important. Without entertainment, where are we?”