Whitehall Theatre Trust hopes soon to be in a position to reimburse ticketholders for shows that had to be cancelled when its former operating company hit the financial buffers.
The theatre closed its doors for a time in August when Whitehall Theatre (Dundee) Ltd the charitable company responsible for its day-to-day operation revealed it was insolvent and was being placed in liquidation.
At that time, people who had already bought tickets for shows that would not go ahead were told the money was being held safely in a separate account operated by the theatre trust, which owns the building, and would be returned.
However, one disappointed Dundee man told The Courier he is still waiting for his cash more than two months later.
Derek Cochrane said he had spent £38 for two tickets for Marc Bolan tribute band T-Rextasy.
He said: ”I received a phone call about eight weeks ago saying that the show was cancelled and the money would be refunded to our credit card.
”We sort of half-expected it after the announcement about the theatre but, basically, nothing has happened since then.”
Mr Cochrane said his attempts to contact the theatre to press his claim had proved fruitless.
Theatre trust chairman Derek Shaw explained that ticketholders have until now been asked to lodge their claims for reimbursement with the insolvency firm dealing with the liquidation, Campbell Dallas in Glasgow. However, matters have now moved on, he said.
”Campbell Dallas have now told us that they will release the money to us to pay people out directly,” he said. ”Hopefully within the next week the money will be transferred to us and as soon as we have the monies we can start reimbursing people.”
Mr Shaw added that the trust has a list of the people waiting for their cash so ticketholders should not have to take any further action to obtain their refunds.
Whitehall Theatre (Dundee) Ltd folded due to the combination of rising costs and a decline in the number of touring shows and the popularity of the amateur productions it relied on for a steady income.
The company collapsed with debts of £43,000, owed to 41 trade creditors, none of whom was due more than £5,000.