The future of the world’s smallest theatre remains in doubt more than a year after a fire at the building.
The Theatre of Small Convenience in Great Malvern has been closed since founder Dennis Neale retired for health reasons in 2017.
Warwickshire College Group (WCG), which owns the former Malvern Hills College site, took on the theatre after Mr Neale's retirement, and posters for both the college and Malvern School of Art can still be seen in its windows.
But a WCG spokesperson confirmed the college group relinquished its lease at the end of last year.
The now-derelict theatre remains in the ownership of Malvern Hill District Council but its future is far from certain.
A spokesperson said: “Malvern Hills District Council currently owns the Theatre of Small Convenience.
“The theatre was leased to the Warwickshire College Group until December last year. Sadly it did suffer some fire damage in 2021 but we have made it safe and cleaned it up.
READ MORE: Fire at Theatre of Small Convenience in Malvern
“The building has an EPC rating of G which means we can’t legally let it. We will be reviewing our options in due course.”
EPC ratings are a review of a property’s energy efficiency - and G is the lowest possible rating, suggesting there’s plenty of work to do if the building is to be used as a theatre again.
Mr Neale opened the Theatre of Small Convenience in 1999 having converted a derelict Victorian toilet block in Edith Walk.
Three years later it entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s smallest commercial theatre.
It became a regular venue of Malvern Fringe Festival and hosted shows as part of an international poetry festival.
READ MORE: New Edith Walk homes nearly ready as developers clear site
A fire broke out at the theatre in December 2021. Fire crews were called after flames were spotted by someone returning from an early morning walk over the hills.
Elevate Property Group, which has planning permission for a development of 11 houses, six apartments and three shops off Edith Walk, confirmed the Theatre of Small Convenience does not fall within its site.
It is hoping to start work on the disused car park behind the Foley Arms Hotel this year.
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