Falkirk Town Hall: Sleeping Beauty panto cancelled again as heating fails

The pantomime ‘Sleeping Beauty’ is the last professional show that will be put on at FTH as the venue will close its doors for the last time in February.

But people with tickets for tonight and Thursday’s matinee performances were left disappointed as a temporary boiler, which was installed at a cost of £45,000, failed.

This is the second time that the heating has packed in during the run. Initially, rehearsals became impossible as the cast struggled with the cold and the opening night was cancelled.

Falkirk Council has apologised for the problems and assured customers that performances would restart on Thursday evening.

The failure was dramatically highlighted at a meeting of Falkirk Council where members were discussing what help is being made available to local groups who are affected by the closure.

Independent councillor Brian McCabe said he had received a message from Barbara Bryceland “who is currently NOT appearing in the pantomime at the town hall”.

In a message that was read out by Councillor McCabe, the singer said: “That’s the heating away again. More cancelled shows. You couldn’t make this up. More disappointed Falkirk kids.”

She suggested that fuel had not been ordered to top up the heating – but Falkirk Council’s director of place, Malcolm Bennie, said that was not the case.

And he told councillors that this was exactly the situation he had warned of when he proposed closing FTH earlier than planned and demolishing it along with the municipal buildings, which are part of the same complex.

He told the meeting: “It’s precisely the very same warning that officers made to elected members in September that it was proving increasingly challenging to put on performances. We’re in a situation now where we’re really struggling to make sure the building can operate to deliver what it needs to.”

Councillors were reminded that they were not there to argue about a decision that had already been taken.

Mr Bennie said that discussions had been held with most local groups who would be affected and alternatives were being put in place. “We’re confident we can mitigate the impacts of the closure,” he said.

Several shows will be held in Grangemouth and Bo’ness town halls and their facilities will be improved as equipment is relocated from FTH. While schools are also available, members heard that the costs are extremely high and they can only be used during school holidays. Larbert High School costs more than £5000 to hire for one week, almost double the cost of FTH, once stewarding costs are added.

Councillors agreed that a senior manager should be authorised to help local groups by using some of a £50,000 fund to promote an arts programme for the whole district.

A spokesperson for Falkirk Council said: “Falkirk Council would like to apologise to customers for the disruptions to performances of Sleeping Beauty last week and this week.

“This was due to a failure of the existing boiler, and a subsequent failure with the temporary boiler brought in to stabilise matters at the venue.

“We are pleased to update that the temporary boiler has been repaired and the remainder of performances will resume from tomorrow evening, Thursday 15 December. Customers who had tickets for the cancelled performances will be offered the option for tickets to be exchanged for a future date. A full list of Sleeping Beauty performances are available to view here.

“Please contact our Bookings & Sales team on 01324 506 850 (lines open 9am-5pm, Mon-Sat) to exchange your tickets. We now look forward to welcoming everyone to FTH Theatre for Sleeping Beauty and we thank everyone for their patience and understanding.”