OPTIONS for the future of the Malvern Theatres will be fully debated in public for the first time at a meeting hosted by the Malvern Gazette next week.

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, at 7.30pm at The Forum on Wednesday, include Clive Richards, chairman of the Malvern Theatres Trust, which will have to recommend a course of action to the council and a representative from MHDC itself.

Ambassadors has dec-lined to attend but there are representatives of professional and amateur users and the Malvern Theatres Association.

Meanwhile, Malvern Concert Club committee member Ernie Kay has warned that any outside takeover of the Theatres could signal the end for the special relationship it has 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 on Thurs-day he said he feared for the future of musical provision in Malvern if MHDC opts 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. "We are listened to and they reg-ard what we do as an integral part of what they do."

He added: "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. It runs from August 1 to Sep-tember 24 and involves a series of public meetings.

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