THE future of one of the county's most popular theatre venues will be under discussion next week.

Options for the future of the Malvern Theatres complex will be fully debated in public for the first time at a meeting hosted by the Evening News' sister paper, the Malvern Gazette.

Malvern Hills District Council is considering the option of a commercial takeover of the venue by Ambassadors Theatre Group.

But the current management have prepared a rival bid.

Speakers lined up for the meeting - due to be held at The Forum tomorrow, at 7.30pm - include Clive Richards, chairman of the Malvern Theatres Trust, which will have to recommend a course of action to the council. A representative from MHDC will also be present.

The Ambassadors Theatre Group has declined to attend but representatives of professional and amateur user-groups and the Malvern Theatres Association will be there.

Warning

Meanwhile, Malvern Concert Club committee member, Ernie Kay, has warned that any outside take-over of the theatre could signal the end for the special relationship it had with the area's music groups.

Mr Kay has been nominated to speak on behalf of the club at the meeting.

Speaking at the club's annual meeting last week, he said he feared for the future of musical provision in Malvern, if MHDC opted for the Ambassadors' bid ahead of the package from current chief executive, Nic Lloyd.

"I can say, without over-egging it, that we have built up a sympathetic understanding with the present theatre management from the top to the bottom," he said.

"They need us, we need them, and the best sort of deal is when both parties need each other. I can't be sure any other managers would take that view."

MHDC's executive committee approved plans for public consultation at a meeting on Tuesday, July 16.

The consultation will run from Thursday, August 1 to Tuesday, September 24, and involves a series of public meetings.