'Clearer timeframe' for Alley Theatre closure expected before Christmas

FURTHER investigations will be needed to provide a "clearer timeline" for the reopening of the Alley Theatre, councillors have been told.

The Strabane venue is due to close its doors at the end of this month to allow for urgent repair and restoration works following the discovery of a 'substantial' water leak.

The remedial works are expected to be extensive and will require a significant drying out period in addition to the physical works.

Derry City and Strabane District Council expects the work for a period of "around six months", with the closure taking place during what is traditionally the busiest time for the theatre - Halloween and Christmas - however it says further investigations will be needed to determine the exact period of closure.

All bookings scheduled until the end of March 2026 have been cancelled.

Council says it is working with promoters to source alternative venues for events, while some of the council's own programming is expected to relocate to the likes of Strabane Library or Melvin Sports Complex.

Some events will be cancelled and customers with tickets for performances during the closure will receive a full refund from the Alley Box Office.

One of the town's premier cultural events - Strabane Drama Festival - has confirmed the closure has forced organisers to cancel the 2026 event.

A report outlining the impact of the temporary closure on service delivery, users and stakeholders was presented to members of the Business and Culture committee.

"A substantial water leak was recently discovered at the Alley Theatre," the report said.

"While it had been hoped that repair works could be scheduled for late 2026, a report received in recent weeks highlighted the need for a more urgent intervention to prevent further damage to the building fabric.

"It has therefore been confirmed that the theatre will close from September 26. At this stage, it is anticipated that the works will take at least six months to complete, though further investigations are required to confirm a definitive timeline.

"It is expected that this will be available before Christmas 2025."

"The temporary closure of the theatre will have a direct impact on events, programmes and service users.

"All bookings scheduled up to the end of March 2026 have been cancelled, while bookings between April and August 2026 are being treated as provisional until a clearer timeline is established."

The theatre's Box Office has already commenced the process of issuing refunds directly to patrons for tickets purchased for cancelled performances.

The report added: "Officers have been engaging with promoters and community partners to minimise disruption and are exploring the option of rescheduling events to later in 2026 once the theatre reopens.

"Service delivery will inevitably be disrupted in the short term, but officers will work to minimise this through alternative programming options during the period of closure."