A national advisory body has expressed concern "about what the future holds for theatre in Sutton” after the company that runs the borough's only two venues auctioned off its assets.

Sutton Council this week refused to say if it would look to rescue the Secombe and the Cryer, which closed in August amid financial difficulties.

Sutton Theatres Trust, which took over the running of the council-owned venues in June 2015, went into administration last month.

But administrators were unable to find a buyer willing to keep the theatres open and the company held a fire sale of all remaining assets last week, auctioning off lighting, sound equipment and fittings in a bid to pay off debts.

The lease on the two buildings will now return to the council, which refused to confirm if it would look to keep venues operating as theatres.

But the sell-off of assets means any group that wanted to re-open the theatres would effectively have to start from scratch.

Rebecca Morland, interim director of national advisory body the Theatres Trust, said she was "concerned about what the future holds for theatre in Sutton. 

She added: “It will be a barrier if the equipment has been removed, particularly for smaller theatre [companies], because of the cost of replacing it all.

“The Theatres Trust is aware, from the feedback that we have had from various members of the local community, that there is a strong desire for theatres in the borough.

“[But] we are also aware that council is going through difficult times with cuts to its budget.”

She added: “We are happy to speak to anyone, the council and community groups, and want to offer all the help we can.”

The Theatres Trust included the Secombe, in Sutton town centre, and the Cryer, in Carshalton, in a list of the UK's most at-risk buildings published this week.

The council had proposed to shut down both venues before outsourcing the running of the venues in June 2015 in a deal that it heralded as saving them from closure.

But Sutton Theatres Trust – which is actually a limited company – went into administration on August 12, citing audience figures “too low to continue operating”. 

The company collapsed despite running the venue's rent-free.

But administrators Herron Fisher were unable to find a buyer willing to keep either venue open, leaving the buildings’ futures in the hands of the council.

Any decision on the future of the theatres will be made by the environment and neighbourhoods committee, which approved last year’s handover.

Cllr Jill Whitehead, who chairs the committee, has faced calls to resign since the collapse of Sutton Theatres.

On Monday she spoke publicly for the first time after refusing requests from the Sutton Guardian for an interview about the theatres.

Speaking at a full council meeting, the Lib Dem said: “Following the transfer of business, the only role for the council was a liaison role.

“This liaison took place as agreed, and no problems, financial or otherwise, were reported to the council. In fact in January 2016, the Sutton Theatres Trust confirmed… all its targets were being exceeded.

“No help was sought from the council and no significant problems were reported by the trust.

“Regarding the finances of the trust, at no point did Sutton Theatres Trust suggest that they were experiencing any financial difficulties.”

But performing arts groups and politicians of other parties criticised the council’s handling of the theatres.

Alison Lee, chairwoman of Tudor Players, an amateur theatre group in Wallington, said: “The council has behaved appallingly, with no real thought about what is going to happen to theatres here.

“There are no performance venues in the borough anymore. We’re stuck. 

“The group have been around since 1947 and now, since we are forced to perform elsewhere, and most of us live locally, people are going to turn around and say they want out.

“The want for theatres is alive and well. The council seem to think that people that go to theatres are a minority but that is not the case.”

Emily Brothers, who stood for Labour in the Sutton and Cheam constituency in last year’s general election, was among those who had called for Cllr Whitehead to step down.

Following Monday’s meeting, she said: “Cllr Whitehead just wanted to get rid of a problem, but it has caught her up more quickly than she could act.

“Wringing her hands and deferring to the administrators isn’t going to help Sutton Theatres Trust or any potential going concern.

“Sutton Council was wholly inadequate in running theatres and proven even more flawed in delivering a partnership model.”

Both the Secombe and the Cryer were listed as potential sites for redevelopment in the council’s borough masterplan, published earlier this year.

Asked about the future of the two buildings, a council spokesman said yesterday: “We have received expressions of interest and are considering whether they are viable and can be taken forward.”

He declined to comment on whether the interested parties wanted to run the buildings as theatres.

Last month Beri Juraic, director of Sutton Theatres, said he believed theatre in the borough “does not have a future”.

He said the survival of the two venues was not possible "wasn’t possible without any local support”.