Renewed efforts are being made to avert the layoff of all six staff members at the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone.
More than 300 people attended a public meeting in the theatre on Thursday night. A subcommittee was formed to seek a meeting with the board of directors, who announced the redundancies earlier this month.
Notice for the six staff members, including manager Fionnuala O'Connell, expired yesterday.
However, board member Nicky McFadden, a local Fine Gael councillor, said she hoped there could be some "reconciliation", and it is now expected that the subcommittee and the board will meet over the weekend.
The board has said it will keep the theatre open on a voluntary and part-time basis, but Ms O'Connell said there was no logic to the decision as Fás funding for the staff members was in place for all of 2006.
The public meeting discussed the possibility of a vote of no confidence in the board, but opted instead to pass a vote of confidence in the staff.
Artists, writers, actors, business people and patrons attended the meeting.
"I have a petition here with over 850 signatures. This decision will take away the livelihood of artists, and send out a message that Athlone is a cultural waste-ground," said local artist Emily Campbell.
She said comedian Tommy Tiernan had signed her petition.
Lighting technician Emma Lohan said: "You can't run a theatre without a manager. Who's going to book the shows?"
The board has said the decision to lay off staff was taken to avoid a financial crisis in the future.
A pantomime goes ahead in the theatre tonight, and a number of other shows are planned in the coming weeks.