THEATRE chiefs says a takeover of Crewe Lyceum's parent company by UK theatre impresario Howard Panter is positive news.

Trafalgar Entertainment, founded and operated by Panter and his wife, Dame Rosemary Squire, has announced its acquisition of regional theatre operator HQ Theatres, of which the Heath Street venue forms part of.

Panter, a former chairman of the English Shakespeare Company and Director of West End theatre owners Maybox Group, is behind the redevelopment of the Trafalgar Theatre in the West End as well as the newly refurbished Theatre Royal Sydney.

HQ is part of the Qdos Entertainment Group and operates 11 venues in the UK, including the Lyceum, Southend Cliffs Pavilion and Bromley's Churchill Theatre.

Crewe Lyceum has been in hibernation during the pandemic and most of its staff remain furloughed.

Making up for lost revenue streams it received a £231,387 windfall as part of Department of Media, Culture and Sport's bale out of the cultural sector last October, while further support was provided by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak when he injected a further £300m investment into the £1.57bn culture recovery fund in this month's budget.

The Lyceum said: "We're excited to share this news today. It's a huge vote of confidence in the live theatre sector; in HQ Theatres - and for Crewe Lyceum itself.

"We cant' wait to welcome you back soon - and to share even more fantastic shows, innovative experiences and inspiring entertainment with our audiences."

Rosemary Squire said: "HQ Theatres is a fantastic business and on behalf of the team at Trafalgar Entertainment, we're thrilled to be partnering with them for the future. It's a credit to the whole team that they have navigated the recent closure period so successfully and are poised to emerge intact and well placed for future growth as the sector rebuilds."

Julian Russell, CEO of HQ Theatres added: "After a tumultuous 2020 this partnership will help to fast-track our recovery plans and offers a range of exciting opportunities for the development of HQ Theatres in the future."