IF the group aiming to make Derby's Hippodrome a working theatre again had the cash, people could be watching a show there by early 2017.
That's the message from the Derby Hippodrome Restoration Trust as it prepares to celebrate the centenary of the landmark building tomorrow.
It is money which is needed and which the organisation hasn't got.
But the trust has at least got a date for when a planning application that would allow it to start revamping the building will be decided by Derby City Council.
The authority aims to have ruled by September 3 on the trust's plan to turn the front-of-house into a coffee shop, with exhibition space on the first floor and offices and meeting space above.
Trust director Peter Steer said his organisation remained as positive about its plans as it had been when it formed in 2008.
That was when the building was partially demolished during work ordered by owner Christopher Anthony.
Mr Steer said: "We will find a way through. We are lucky it's a brick building. You go around the country and see ruined castles standing after hundreds of years."
Transforming the former theatre would involve cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund but the fund will not stump up the money if the trust cannot show it could take up ownership of the building.
Derby City Council says it will not put any more money into it because it needs to save £81 million by 2017.
The trust had called on the Government to use its powers to help it take over the building.
But that application was rejected.
In a meeting with the council, the trust will try to outline its argument that the Hippodrome could be part of the answer to the gulf in the city's entertainment offer left by the Assembly Rooms fire.
The authority has said it was considering whether to refurbish the Assembly Rooms or replace it at its current site or elsewhere.
Mr Steer said the city needed a large purpose-built theatre as well as an "events venue", like the Assembly Rooms, if it wants to find a silver-lining from the blaze.
He said that, if a two-building approach was taken, the cheapest way would be to refurbish the Assembly Rooms and rebuild the Hippodrome.
Mr Steer said: "The Hippodrome option should at least be taken into consideration."
However, a planning application from the bank responsible for the building's future could scupper the trust's plans before they get started.
Davidson Aquila, estate agent for the building, says there is one coming and it will be for non-theatre use.
It's an uncertain future then. But that won't stop the trust celebrating the building's past tomorrow.
One person for every year of the building's century-long existence will gather outside at 2.30pm, joined by actress Gwen Taylor, who is helping with the trust's efforts.
Derby Hippodrome building has a chequered historyTHE Hippodrome was built in 1914 as a 2,300-seat variety theatre, which wowed Derby audiences until it was converted into a cinema in 1930.
That 1,800-seat venue continued in this way until the late 1940s, when it was closed because it was unable to compete with purpose-built cinemas.
It was bought in 1950 by the Stoll Theatres Corporation and reopened as a theatre the same year. That venture lasted until 1959, when the building closed again as a result of competition from television.
It was bought by Mecca Ltd in 1961 and turned into a bingo hall. The building was then bought in 1982 by Walkers Ltd but, in 2006, competition from purpose-built bingo halls proved too much and it shut down.
The building was sold in 2007 to developer Christopher Anthony.
At the time, according to the Land Registry, he paid £375,000 for the building and Crompton Street car park next door.
In 2008, Mr Anthony ordered work on the building which led to its partial demolition and the Derby Hippodrome Restoration Trust was formed with the goal of opening the building as a theatre again.
Derby City Council took out an injunction against Mr Anthony, stopping him carrying out any further work.
There have been a number of fires in the building since that time that have caused further damage.
The council carried out emergency work to repair the building's roof in October 2010.
An application from Mr Anthony to partially demolish the former theatre and rebuild it as a multi-storey car park was rejected by the council in 2009.
A fire in November 2011 damaged some of the upper front of house area.
According to the Land Registry, Mr Anthony still owns the building.
But, in June last year, Davidson Aquila, an estate agent for the building, revealed it was working on behalf of a bank.
In February this year, Ian Davidson, a director of that company, said an outline planning application was on its way for a non-theatre use for the building.
The trust submitted a planning application to turn the front-of-house into a coffee shop with exhibition space on the first floor and offices and meeting rooms above in April this year. But any funding would need the trust to be to able to show they can take up ownership of the building.
