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Comeback for Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone complete with panto announcement
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Updated: 15:42, 06 March 2021
A theatre which found itself facing fears of closure has bounced back for 2021, with its management team confirming its pantomime.
There were fears for the Hazlitt in Maidstone, when the council which owns the building decided to end its contact the Parkwood Theatres and bring the theatre back under direct control.
Cinderella was a previous panto at The Hazlitt in Maidstone. Now theatre bosses are thrilled to announce the show will return for 2021 Picture: Parkwood Theatres
Thousands signed a petition calling for it to be saved and safeguarded for the future. It was feared the move was the first step to closing the arts centre for good.
Hazlitt Theatre to continue in hands of Parkwood Leisure, Maidstone council decides
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It s back to square one for Maidstone council and the Hazlitt Theatre.
Members of the council s economic regeneration and leisure committee tonight accepted a report from its officers that the council should continue with its contract with Parkwood Leisure, the company that manages the Hazlitt Arts Centre on the council s behalf.
The Hazlitt Theatre in Earl Street, Maidstone
The decision is a reversal of that taken at a meeting in November, when the committee decided to end the contract with Parkwood Leisure and bring the theatre back under direct council control.
Crunch meeting on future on Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone is delayed
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Updated: 15:32, 08 January 2021
A council meeting set to focus on the future of the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone has been pushed back by a week because of the ever-changing Covid-19 government guidance .
In November, Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) announced plans to terminate its contract with Parkwood Theatres, which has run the the Hazlitt since 2013, in an effort to save cash after the pandemic took a heavy toll on the authority s finances.
Many pantomimes have been held at the Hazlitt Theatre. Picture: Simon Hildrew
As well as many questions over the theatre s future, it led to fears over where community groups and clubs, such as the Hazlitt Youth Theatre, could go, under the plans.