Labour calls in Reform decision to save Cannock’s Prince of Wales Theatre

Labour councillors have formally challenged the Reform UK administration’s decision to retain and refurbish Cannock’s Prince of Wales Theatre, just weeks after the Cabinet voted to save the venue from demolition.

Cannock Chase District Council’s Cabinet unanimously agreed on 20 August that its preferred approach was to retain and refurbish the Prince of Wales, rather than continue with a Development Framework which included redevelopment of the theatre site. The council subsequently described the theatre as having been “saved from demolition”.

But newly published papers reveal that Labour Group Leader Cllr Tony Johnson has now formally called in the decision, supported by fellow Labour councillors Mandy Dunnett, Maureen Freeman, Jeff Hill and Jacquie Prestwood.

Together, the five councillors represent five of Labour's 11 members on Cannock Chase District Council.

The formal reason given for the call-in is that the decision to retain and refurbish the theatre “poses an unacceptable financial and reputational risk to Cannock Chase Council.” 

Instead, the call-in asks the council to pursue the alternative Development Framework, which includes redeveloping the existing Prince of Wales Theatre site as part of wider plans involving housing, commercial development, cultural uses and educational facilities.

Theatre's future has divided councillors

The latest challenge follows nearly two years of uncertainty over the Cannock venue's future.

The theatre was earmarked for closure as the council sought savings, and it closed in April 2025. Attempts followed to find a community organisation to operate it, but the previous Cabinet decided not to proceed with the proposed Community Asset Transfer.

In December 2025, the then Cabinet went further and voted to demolish the theatre as part of the wider Cannock town centre regeneration programme. The decision was challenged at Scrutiny at the time amid concerns that insufficient evidence had been gathered on the social, economic and financial consequences of demolition.

After May's elections and a change of administration, the new Reform UK Cabinet reversed course. Deputy Leader Cllr Richard Craddock said following August's vote that residents and town-centre businesses had told councillors they wanted the theatre saved, adding: “Our residents and town centre shop owners told us they want a thriving theatre.”

What happens now?

The decision to retain the Prince of Wales Theatre has been made by Cabinet, but the theatre cannot yet be considered fully saved while that decision remains subject to the call-in process.

The current estimate of around £9.6 million relates to a full refurbishment of the theatre. Council Leader Cllr Paul Jones has said the Reform UK administration will look at lower-cost options to significantly reduce that figure, while still securing the theatre’s future and bringing it back into use.

Detailed designs, an operator and a full business case would still be required before any final commitment to a refurbishment scheme.

The Economic Prosperity Scrutiny Committee will consider the Labour call-in on Tuesday 22 September. Scrutiny can allow the Cabinet decision to proceed, refer it back to Cabinet for reconsideration, or the matter can ultimately be referred to Full Council.

That means the future of the Prince of Wales Theatre is not yet settled.

Residents who feel strongly about whether the theatre should be retained or the site redeveloped now have an opportunity to make their views known directly to the councillors who represent them.

For Cannock’s Prince of Wales Theatre, the political battle that appeared to have changed direction following May’s elections is therefore not over.

The Cabinet has voted to save the theatre — but until the call-in process is concluded and the decision is allowed to proceed, its future remains uncertain.