Felixstowe: Spa’s last night set to be an emotional one
AFTER 47 years of pantos, the Dennis Lowe Theatre Company is preparing for possibly its final show at the Spa Pavilion – and expecting an emotional last night.
With the theatre set to close on January 6, the company’s production of Aladdin could be the last ever show at the Felixstowe theatre.
While it is fitting that the company which has played such a leading role in entertainment at the venue for nearly five decades sees the final curtain, owner Sylvia Lowe – whose late husband Dennis began the group – is heartbroken that it could be lost.
“I don’t know what Dennis would think if he was here now – I just feel he would be absolutely horrified and doing all he could to try and save it,” she said.
“It seems unbelievable that the Spa could close.
“Our problem with this year’s panto is that people seem to think it is already shut – ticket sales are down and we are having to work so hard to get the message across to people that the show is definitely taking place and the theatre is still open as normal.”
Mrs Lowe said she was not looking forward to the last night.
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“It’s going to be very sad and quite emotional – it won’t be nice,” she said.
“I know the theatre will go dark now because time is running out and no shows have been booked after January 6. Seeing it boarded up will scare me because I don’t know if we will then get it open again. We just have pray that a solution is found.”
Owner Suffolk Coastal says it can no longer afford the annual �250,000 cost of the theatre and has appointed specialist agents Jones Lang LaSalle to re-market the seafront property to try to attract a bidder – either to run it as a theatre or a new attraction.
? Aladdin opens at the Spa on December 22 and runs until January 6. For tickets contact the box office on 01394 282126.
