The leader of Thurrock Council has issued a clarion call to councillors, council officers and the public to help make Grays the cultural centre of the borough.

Councillor John Kent was speaking recently over future plans for the Thameside Theatre and its replacement.

He said: “Tonight I believe is the first step on creating a new and exciting cultural and artistic centre in Grays; somewhere the growing borough of Thurrock can come together and enjoy the best local, national and even international talent.

“Tonight we are tasking our officers with speaking with our current partners and others about ways we can capitalise on our new-found cultural wealth and our geographical position, on the Thames, and half an hour from London and the West End.

“And tonight, I believe, this council is taking its civic leadership role very seriously. We believe in the art of the possible because we believe all this can be done; now we have to take our colleagues with us.”

Mr Kent said he believed everyone was convinced the current Thameside theatre position could not be maintained in the long term and that a replacement on the same site would mean it closing for some time.

He said: “I think everyone interested in the future of the Thameside complex and the Thameside Theatre should welcome this report which confirms we are both committed to having a dedicated civic theatre in Grays and that we are equally committed to having the present theatre maintaining its service - in fact we want and we expect a better service from the present building - while it exists.”

Mr Kent added the year long process looking onto the theatre’s future and involving local arts groups and other interested parties proves “to everyone interested in the arts and the theatre in Thurrock that we are determined this goes ahead”.

He said the “arts scene in Thurrock has changed considerably over the past few years”, adding: “Back in 2000, who could have thought the Royal Opera House would have two bases here, back in 2000, who could have thought our borough would boast a world class production venue, and back in 2000, who could have thought there would be 40 artists – most from Thurrock – in studios here – and a demand for more.”

And he said: “Back in 2000, who would have thought the council would be working with partners to develop a massive television and film studio complex along with a whole new town centre on the banks of the Thames at Purfleet.”