A SHOWBIZ producer is to launch a campaign to save the threatened Pier Theatre.

Lee Redwood, of Lee Redwood Productions, says the town “simply can’t afford” to lose the facility and claims it could be a success with the right management.

Mr Redwood, who has produced in the Pier Theatre adds: “I feel if it were to be managed correctly, it would be the perfect venue for a star studded summer season show during the school summer holidays and used for amateur dramatics companies for the rest of the year.”

On Friday the Echo revealed that plans for an all weather attraction in the building will be put forward to council planners.

Dwindling audiences and high running costs mean the ageing theatre has lost nearly £400,000 in the last five years.

So pier operators, Openwide International are to apply for a change of use to turn it into an adventure sports attraction.

But Mr Redwood claims that part of the reason for the theatre’s demise is “the poor choice of shows throughout the summer season” when most of the revenue should be generated.

“Over the past 50 years so many well known actors and actresses have played the theatre and it’s like a mini-Pavilion, with around 800 seats.”

He added: “As a town we have lost so many performance venues in past years, including the Playhouse in Hinton Road, Theatre Royal on Albert Road and the Winter Gardens.”

He said a large number of people had expressed an interest in a campaign to save the theatre.

Ex-Bournemouth mayor, Doug Eyre, who campaigned to save the Winter Gardens, said it was “tragic” the theatre could close.

“I think it’s just the continuing demise of Bournemouth as a performing arts centre,”

“To rebuild is going to take a lot of investment. You’ve got to rebuild an audience.”

Tony Hardman, who has been in the entertainment industry for 40 years and was publicity boss for Bournemouth’s venues, said: “It could be saved provided the right shows are put on.”

Managing director of Openwide, Steve Cutbush, told the Echo they had done their best to make the theatre work.

“There have been some shows where we have had 35 people sitting in the audience,” he added.

Just 16,000 tickets were sold for the Pier Theatre last year – with 206,000 for the Pavilion.

The plan is to change the theatre into an adventure sports attraction with surf training wave, climbing walls and high ropes courses.

The all weather scheme would cost in the region of £3m.