Epstein Theatre falls into administration

The Epstein Theatre which operates from a historic playhouse in Liverpool has fallen into administration.

Lila Thomas and Jason Baker, partners at FRP Advisory, the business advisory firm, have been appointed as joint administrators.

So far all the theatre’s 30 staff, many of which are part-time front of house workers including bar staff, are all being kept on.

The joint administrators say they are working closely with the theatre’s management and the company’s stakeholders to ensure all the necessary support is in place for upcoming Christmas pantomime production of Peter Pan starting on tomorrow (Friday, December 8) and due to run until January 1, 2018.

Bookings continue as normal for all the productions advertised for the theatre’s 2018 season.

Thomas and Baker say they have support in place for the ongoing operations of the theatre and its staff, while they finalise a new and more sustainable financial structure for its continuing place at the heart of Liverpool’s cultural capital.

Thomas said: “The Epstein Theatre doors remain open for the entirety of the Christmas season and beyond.

“Talks are at an advanced stage with key stakeholders for a financial restructure ensuring operations continue as normal for all current bookings, planned future shows and to place the theatre within a more sustainable structure to allow for another generation of successful performances across the spectrum of entertainment.”

“All theatre staff are being retained and paid as normal while a solution is finalised, and all existing contracts are being maintained for bookings, to ensure the show will go on for both theatre-goers and performers over the coming weeks while a transition to a new holding structure is agreed.”