Stars including one of this year’s Celebrity Traitors contestants are supporting a fellow actor’s campaign to save a troubled Halifax theatre.

Reece Dinsdale, who has been in both Coronation Street and Emmerdale, has been rallying support to rescue Square Chapel Arts Centre.

Those who are backing his bid so far include actress Julie Hesmondhalgh, best known for playing Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street and one of the competitors in the current series of Celebrity Traitors.

Michelle Keegan, who starred in military drama Our Girl and most recently ITV’s The Blame, has added her name to the push too.

Also supporting the theatre campaign are Maxine Peake, Sue Johnston, Ian Puleston-Davies, Natalie Gavin, Mark Addy, Les Dennis, Sally Dynevor, Jack P Shepherd, Jeff Hordley, and Mark Charnock, as well as other actors, writers, broadcasters and creatives.

They have all signed an open letter in which Reece reflects on the power of the arts and calls for Square Chapel to be saved as a working arts centre for the people of Calderdale.

As reported previously by the Courier, Reece has announced he is bringing together a group of supporters and potential partners to explore how Square Chapel Arts Centre can be saved, and says returning the Halifax Grade II-listed venue to community use would be a priority.

He has since posted on social media that he and his “fellow collaborators” are waiting to see if they have “made the cut” to take their interest to the next stage.

The theatre, which shut suddenly in February 2025, was put up for sale in August after being seized by liquidators.

Arts Council England says it is aware of “a number of interested parties” who want to use the building "for cultural purposes”.

The organisation is also trying to find a way for the community to have a say over who takes on the iconic arts venue building.

A winding-up order was secured against Square Chapel CIC (Community Interest Company) - the company in charge of Square Chapel Arts Centre - in June.

The order forced Square Chapel CIC to shut down and into compulsory liquidation.

Square Chapel CIC – a non-profit organisation – was formed in 2020 after Arts At The Mill CIC – the umbrella for Wigan organisations The Old Courts, Wigan Pier and The Royal Court Theatre – took over the theatre.

It announced in February 2025 it was shutting the theatre and cancelling planned performances “whilst we work with professional services to discuss the future of the venue”.

Concern for the future of the theatre had been growing for some time before the closure, with the Courier reporting in September 2024 how a spokesperson for the group running the venue had admitted there were “a number of artists” who had not been paid following performances there.

The group in charge is keen to stress that by the time Square Chapel closed its doors in 2025, all artists had been paid in full.

Since February 2025, the building’s only use has been temporarily as a green room for artists during Live at The Piece Hall gigs.