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A UK theatre has closed its doors and collapsed into administration following a long-running planning row, according to reports. Titchfield Festival Theatre in Fareham, Hampshire, appointed administrators on May 8 after reaching an "unviable financial position".

The firm behind the venue got into hot water by building a new 450-seat site without planning permission, a fact discovered by Fareham Borough Council in May 2023. The intervening years saw the local authority attempt to force the theatre to close, while the company lodged retaliatory legal challenges.

Theatre chairman Christopher Milburn sent a message to members confirming the closure this week, effective immediately, The News reports.

He said: "With huge regret I have to announce that due to our unviable financial position, we have ceased trading. This means there will be no further shows at Titchfield Festival Theatre or The Barn. All rehearsals are cancelled."

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He added: "I am sorry that we have had to take this decision but sadly there was no option."

While the venue itself has not issued a notice confirming the news, upcoming performances have been marked as cancelled on its website.

Among the groups impacted by the decision was Titchfield Youth Theatre, which previously held weekly meetings at the site and had been planning to perform a show there in the near future.

A statement from the organisation read: "We are deeply saddened and shocked by the news that Titchfield Festival Theatre has been forced into administration and has closed immediately. Having been part of [the theatre] for nearly 20 years, we have always felt fully supported by them.

"Their closure now leaves Titchfield Youth Theatre, together with the other Youth Theatre than runs their sessions there, and especially all of our young actors without a venue for our weekly Saturday sessions and the wonderful different spaces that [the theatre] provided where they could perform their plays."

David Hamilton, Liberal Democrat councillor and opposition leader in the Conservative-led local authority, described the news as a "significant blow to our community" following the closure of other arts venues including The Ashcroft Arts Centre, which shut last year following funding cuts.

He said: "Titchfield Festival Theatre has been a hugely important part of our local cultural life for many years. It has brought people together, provided opportunities for performers and offered something genuinely special for audiences across Fareham and beyond. To lose that entirely would be a real body blow to our community."

Mr Hamilton added that the community should do "everything possible to retain as much of the theatre as we can", describing it as a "real asset" to Fareham, with a legacy worth protecting.

Fareham Borough Council leader Simon Martin said the news was "obviously sad" but suggested it may not have been necessary had the theatre not dedicated so much time and money to fighting the planning enforcement.

He added: "We don't know the full details yet. It is always sad when any venue like this closes, and if it is true then of course [alternative venue] Fareham Live will do all they can to help the community groups affected by this."

The Express has contacted Titchfield Festival Theatre for comment.