It is anticipated that the board will be expanded as the project progresses and the society will run a crowdfunder campaign that will ultimately engage hundreds of active members, in common with similar successful organisations across the UK.

After consulting with a 40+ strong Cultural Partnership of Newton Abbot and Teignbridge creative industry operators, the society was formed to save the Alex and to help create a vision for a transformational cultural quarter. The plans centre around the regeneration of The Alexandra Theatre into a year-round live entertainment venue and a cultural hub but also offers indicative plans of how this sits alongside a regenerated market hall and new state of the art cinema. They have been develped by Newton Abbot firm PMR Architecture and are based on the previously released drawings of Jeremy Newcombe, the Newton Abbot based Architect behind the regeneration of Newton’s Place. The development of the planning application and associated consultancy has been supported throughout 2023 by the Architectural Heritage Fund.

Alongside the plans, the Community Benefit Society is also creating a sustainable business plan for The Alexandra Theatre Newton Abbot, with input from the Independent Cinema Office, CommunityShares.co.uk and Crowdfunder.co.uk. The society is already in conversations with organisations such as the Coop’s UK and has ongoing contact with and support for the principle of retaining the grade 2 listed theatre from The Theatres Trust. 

However, the campaign to save the theatre has been running since 2020 under the aegis of an informal group known as the Friends of the Alexandra Theatre with which we are collaborating.

A co-op can effectively be run by residents, in the residents’ best interests. This has been formed in response to the groundswell of support to saving the theatre and create a live entertainment and cultural hub.

Meet the society’s five founding directors

Dr Richard Ward
Richard is Chairman of the Newton Abbot and District Musical Comedy Society, the theatrical group that has operated in Newton Abbot for over 100 years. Richard is the notorious Dame in the Society annual pantomime performed at the Alexandra Theatre and has been a long-time campaigner to ‘Save the Alex’. He is Chair of the Community Benefit society and passionate about live theatre and promotion of the arts to provide culture and entertainment for everyone in the locality.

Claire Holden
NEWTS Youth Theatre Group Leader/Director and Performer. Claire has been performing on stage at The Alexandra Theatre since the age of 8 years old and for the past 15 years has been directing shows for NEWTS Youth Theatre Group. Claire is super passionate about ‘The Arts’ and strongly believes that The Alexandra Theatre is the perfect place to create a vibrant arts hub & community theatre for all.

Richard Daws
Sold his first Production Company to the Guardian Media Group/Endemol in 2000, then became co-owner of Komedia: a comedy producer and top tier live venue operator in Brighton & Bath. The Komedia venues operate as multi use arts and entertainment hubs that have been central to the creation of their cities Cultural Quarters. He created the 100% community owned Bath venue in a Grade 2 listed former cinema. Richard is one of a small number of Teignbridge District Councillors who have lobbied to ‘Save the Alex’.

Joanna Walling -
BMus (Hons), PGCE (PCE)
Senior Partner of JJ’s Arts Academy, Newton Abbot. Senior Vocal and Keyboard Instructor for Yamaha Music Schools UK and Senior Examiner for RSL. Musical Director, choir leader, performer and co-writer of six published books. Joanna is passionate about providing local performance opportunities and saving the Alexandra Theatre. Local people performing to local people.

John Pike
Former managing director of Newton Abbot-based international minerals group, lawyer and Newtonian; trustee/director of local charitable and community organisations including community plan, education, transport, culture and the environment; wants performing arts and culture to be a much greater part in the lives of all members of the community.