New Empire Theatre
22 ALEXANDRA STREET, SOUTHEND ON SEA, ESSEX SS1 1BU,
01702 353577
Welcome to the New Empire Theatre

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*** NEWFLASH!***

On arriving at the theatre on Tuesday morning, staff were devastated to find posters over the building stating that the landlord was taking possession of the building due to non-payment of rent. All the padlocks and locks had been changed and staff were unable to get into the building. The ongoing work and essential repairs being carried out on the building have made it difficult to take bookings for the theatre, and as a result the rent has not been paid in full. The landlord and his staff were aware of the situation and untill yesterday had not expressed any discontent with this. The theatre is not giving up without a fight, and we intend for our shows to go on. Many thanks to everyone for their ongoing support.

NEW EMPIRE OPEN AGAIN!

Following our summer break, the theatre is open for business with a newly refurbished foyer and amazing new box office, marking the next phase (the next 10 years perhaps?) in the life of the theatre.
TICKETS ARE SELLING NOW for the New Empire Players' Old Time Music Hall - taking place on 13th - 16th November. Tickets just £8.50

The theatre has also just announced the return by popular demand of 'Now That's What We Call Music' on Sat 25th & Sun 26th October. Tickets only £8.00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEW EMPIRE!

The New Empire Theatre is ten years old in August!

We cannot put into words the immense grattitude we feel towards all the people who have supported us over the years, from people who have donated things to those who have given their time and enthusiasm to the project, and to all the words of encouragement and support through some very difficult periods. We are still fighting and not giving up, and are looking forward to a bright future with the continued support of our volunteer staff, the local community and Southend Council. Thank you everyone from the bottom of our hearts!
October 2006

The Empire joins the 21st Century!

As of January 2007, the New Empire Theatre will be launching it's email mailing list, enabling people to receive news of coming shows electronically. This is all thanks to the hard work of one kind volunteer. For more details, go to our 'What's On' section in the website.
October 2006

FIASCO WITH MOVING LIGHTS... contd

The 'fiasco' of the moving lights has been resolved out of court.
July 2004

FIASCO WITH MOVING LIGHTS
Below is a letter written by Theatre Manager Julie Robertson to the Claims Department at UPS House outlining the recent frustrations with regard to the acquisition of some new moving lights. Julie has asked that the letter be published here to demonstrate to all the alleged inadequacies of UPS:
Claims Department
UPS House
Forest Road
Felton
Middlesex
TW13 7DY

30th June 2004

Dear Sir/Madam

Re: Claim No. 252X23/71153473 - Tracking No. M 0549340909

Our technical director made an enquiry on 30th April 2004, Mr D Robertson, regarding a pick up of lights from Wales, we were quoted £68.33, and you were told we would ring back with card details. During this conversation the weight, size, contents and how they were to be packed was all explained, we were told that would be fine and it was booked in. I, Miss J Robertson rang back, to pay. I was told the booking should not have been confirmed without payment, it would have to be cancelled and re-booked, so again I went through the weight, size, contents, how they were to be packed, pick up address, delivery address, times of our opening and made payment. This was your first mistake. I was told they would be delivered after the bank holiday. They were not. I rang on Wednesday 5th May to find out where our goods were and was told they had been delivered to Doncaster College. I then rang PA Installations (dispatch address) who informed me that they hadn’t been picked up, but another set of items for Doncaster College had been. I can only assume that your company were booked for two pick ups which had been mistaken as one, another mistake. Our delivery eventually came on Thursday 6th May 2004 at 10.25am, as previously advised we do not open til 11am. Another phone call, but this time, our tracking no. of W3236906914 could not be traced, I was told that I couldn’t have been looking in the right place, it was the only number on all the parcels (copy of Infonotice enclosed). The delivery came on Friday 7th May 2004, with a comment from the driver “I’d be surprised if they are all in one piece as they get thrown around”. How right he was, the goods are:-

2 lights encased in metal with glass lenses and glass colour wheels etc. These were also packed in industrial bubble wrap (this was told to your company).

Once we started to open them it was evident to us that these lights had not been picked up and placed down, they had been thrown around without any care, one of the lenses inside had been jolted out of it’s holders and cracked. The glass-coloured discs had also been smashed by the lights being thrown. I enclose a list of breakages, costs and photos.

You were informed of the above and collection to assess the damage was made on 11th May 2004. Another comment came from the same driver “I knew they wouldn’t be in one piece”. They were loaded onto the van, when asked, “will they be strapped in?” ... the driver said, “no, they’ll only get thrown around again”. He did not take the packing, this was picked up on 19th May 2004, after we received your letter dated 13th May 2004, informing us that UPS are unable to pay as there was insufficient packaging (how could you know you didn’t have the packaging on the date the letter was written?). This obviously proves that you had no intention of even considering a claim. I might also point out that you made another mistake by sending a letter to PA Installations (the shipper, received by them on 17th May 2004) not the New Empire Theatre (the receiver and payer of the carriage bill) received by us on 18th May 2004.
18th May 2004 Rang David Jarman, explained above, he said he would arrange pick up of packaging
19th May 2004 Packaging collected
24th May 2004 Received a phone call from PA Installations (the shipper) the goods had been returned to them in Wales.
24th May 2004 Rang David Jarman left message on phone to call me.
25th May 2004 David Jarman left message on our answerphone at 10.52am WE DO NOT OPEN TILL 11AM!
25th May 2004 Rang David Jarman left message on Voicemail (twice)
25th May 2004 David Jarman rang, said they are arranging pick up but needed a letter of release from PA Installations to ensure all future correspondence comes to the delivery address. The question asked is WHY a release agreement had to be faxed when it was your company’s mistake in delivering them back to the wrong place.
2nd June 2004 Rang David Jarman left message on voicemail to call - no call returned
3rd June 2004 Message left from David Jarman on our answerphone (before 11am again). We have a recording of this message informing us that the fax had not been received from PAI. 11th June 2004 - rang Chris from PA Installations who informed me that it had been faxed approx 2 weeks ago.
5th June 2004 Compliment slip received from PA Installations with bill attached from UPS saying that you had undercharged us and an amount of £11.81 is owing to your company (I must admit I will not rush to pay this - another mistake!!!) the bill was dated 10th May 2004 received by PA Installations on 4th June 2004 (another mystery - where had it been?). Also interesting was the comment on the compliment slip “PS the scans are still here”. The Scans being the lights that you damaged, possibly beyond repair.
11th June 2004 Rang David Jarman left message on his voicemail.
11th June 2004 Rang again, spoke to David Jarman told him about the undercharge letter and that the goods are still at PA Installations. Said he would talk to the claims department and we should get a call from them.
18th June 2004 Received letter dated 16th June 2004 again saying that “Our investigation has determined that insufficient packaging was used for this shipment” and that you are “unable to pay a claim for the damaged goods”.

The letter was addressed to Mr Robsen, New Empire Theatre, 2 Alexander St, Southend-on-Sea, BS01 - and the tracking number is not the number on our initial slip (could this be another mistake!!!). Your company had the correct address on the date of booking and had the correct address on the letter of 13 May 2004, so what or who changed it, or is it complete incompetence???
18th June 2004 Rang David Jarman, left message on voicemail.
18th June 2004 Rang David Jarman, got through to him, told him above, he actually said he could not believe that the goods were still in Wales and he apologised again on the company’s behalf.
It is now 30th June and still no lights re-delivered, perhaps they have gone to Mr Robsen???

The conclusion of this letter is that your company have failed to provide the service for which payment was made. I have always had to make the contact phone calls and all the letters that your company have written have been sent to the wrong address, this mail is private.

We have to date had 3 shows in the Theatre for which we have had to hire lights £100 per light per week, total to date £600.00 plus the payment for the damaged parts.

This might be of interest to you, we had a different parcel to returned to a company, the same driver who delivered and picked up the lights, turned up at 10.40am (again he knows we do not open til 11am). He asked if we had got the lights back, we told him the last we heard was that UPS were arranging a further pick up from Wales. He told us that they were in your warehouse, I wonder how long they will stay there.

Do not write back and tell us the packaging was insufficient, you were told how the items would be packed and your driver picked up the packages. If they were not to your standards of packing your should not have taken them.

I look forward to your reply by return of post

Yours faithfully





Miss J Robertson
General Manager
March 26th 2003

FUND UPDATE
The New Empire Theatre has been saved, thanks to a ten-year deal revealed today. After a year of uncertainty, the trustees have signed a contract with the building's owners to retain the theatre as a centre for amateur arts. Our theatre looked set to close in March last year when the owners declined to renew the lease and announced plans to convert the building into a nightclub.

Due to the overwhelming support from the public and our customers, we were given a temporary reprieve which gave the trustees 18 months to raise £1 million to buy the property.

We have now been granted an extra ten years, with an option to buy it as soon as the funds are available. The fund has so far raised £170,000, so with this extra time look forward to buying the building in the near future.


May 21st 2002

UPDATE
The New Empire Theatre Fund has now signed a deal with the owners, which will allow the Fund to lease the theatre from the owner for twelve months with an option to buy it for £1M within that time. The Fund needs to raise the money to buy the building and to maintain it for years to come. The deal is signed and the theatre is secure, but the fundraising is now the real focus. The New Empire Theatre Fund now has an address for people to send their donations:

22 Alexandra Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1BU
tel: 01702 473160
e-mail: fund@newempiretheatre.co.uk

All the shows in the Whats On section are going ahead, so book your tickets now! We have a busy year ahead of us so keep your eyes on this site for information on the Theatre and the New Empire Theatre Fund.

Many thanks to everyone for the overwhelming support over the past few months, and to the Fund Trustees for securing our theatre.

23rd April 2002

UPDATE
Since the last update (see below) a fund has been set up by a group of people independant from the theatre, but with an interest in the project. The purpose of the fund is to raise enough money (up to £1 million) to buy the building on behalf of the management at the theatre, from its current owner. Negotiations are progressing and a deal has been set up, this will give us enough time to be able to raise the money to buy the building and in the meantime to stage the events that had been previously booked in for the coming year. The theatre is open for business as usual and all the shows advertised in our What's On section will be going ahead.

Unfortunately the situation has led us to lose some bookings, and subsequently there are dates available to hire the theatre, if you wish to stage an event at the Empire, please contact us. Those of you who wish to give a donation, please send a cheque to the address above making it payable to The New Empire Theatre Fund, and please remember to include your name and address. We are now embarking on a massive fund-raising campaign, and need your continued support. At this point, we would like to express our grateful thanks to all those who have supported our campaign to preserve the New Empire Theatre as a community project. Watch this space for further updates.


24th March 2002
Just a quick update to thank everyone for their support, we have been amazed by the reaction of so many people. It seems that no-one we have spoken to, young or old, wants our theatre to become a nightclub. Your support has given us hope, and the overwhelming response with the petitions, phonecalls and letters we have received, proves that this project is much needed in the community and for the promotion of local arts in Southend. We are talking to people who we hope may be able to help, and we are continuing to fight on to keep our theatre. Please continue to check this page for updates over the coming weeks.
15th March 2002

NEWSFLASH

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Is Southend ready for another nightclub?
The New Empire Theatre project in Alexandra Street, Southend, is under threat of closure. The owners of the building, which was built in 1896, have now decided to sell, and the only remaining purpose built theatre in the centre of Southend looks set to become yet another nightclub/pub/casino.

We have only discovered via the owners in the last few weeks that the sale of the building is imminent, giving very little time to raise what we think would be immense public support for the theatre.

The theatre project has proved itself over the last 3 and a half years as a necessary community venue, bringing trade into the town, with many dancing schools and amateur groups who would otherwise have to go out of the area for a suitable venue. With public support, and with more time, we would be able to go to the appropriate financial backers in an effort to purchase the building and secure its future.

As with many property developers, the owners are purely interested in a return on their money and not the interests of the town and its local community. If we had thought that things could end in this way, we would not have put so much time and energy into making it a success. Let's hope it is not the end. Please show your support by e-mailing us here, alternatively you may write to the theatre direct or call in at the theatre and sign a petition.

If you would like to download a PDF of the petition to circulate among your peers, click here. To save directly to your computer, right click the link. Please return petitions to the New Empire Theatre at the address above. Adobe Acrobat 3 required, click here to go to Adobe's site.