News and Events
Fears for future of Derby Theatre are unfounded, say key partners
23rd Mar 2011
Derby City Councillor Alan Graves claimed last week that a Derby Theatre bid for more than �700,000 a year of Arts Council cash had been rejected, despite the official decision not being published until the end of the month.
Mr Graves, who had served on the Arts Council for four years, believed the decision meant that the future of the theatre was now "in jeopardy".
But last night that suggestion was denied by both the University of Derby, the lease holder of Derby Theatre, and the city council.
Councillor Alan Grimadell, council cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: "We are currently seeing a very good theatre programme in the city, great productions offering great value.
"The recent comments about funding from April 2012 onwards are not welcome, and not helpful, as the university awaits the decision from the Arts Council.
"We should be grateful to the university for rescuing the theatre for Derby after 18 months in the dark. Without having the theatre we wouldn't have been able to stage Onassis, Wind in the Willows or The Merchant of Venice. Without the cart there would be no horse.
"As the owner of the theatre, the university has applied for funding from the Arts Council and we await that decision."
University vice-chancellorProfessor John Coyne added: "We are confident in the long term viability and future of the theatre. The university didn't enter into this as a short term commitment, this is a long voyage and we want to create the foremost, producing, learning theatre in the country.
"And we have every confidence that the Arts Council will appreciate and support that model. When we know the definite outcome of the Arts Council's decision we will be in a better position to look forward. But reports of demise, closure or going dark are entirely premature. There's no way the theatre's going to close and it's frustrating to have to respond to such claims. We haven't invested �2 million for a bleak prospect."
There is renewed concern for the future of the Guildhall Theatre after Derby's amateur dramatic groups reported to the Telegraph that they had been unable to book slots for productions after March 2011.
Derby Live, the city's council's arts arm, which looks after the theatre, confirmed that it was not taking bookings after that date at present.
Mr Grimadell said he would "look into" the situation.
By nigel powlson
Source: This Is Derbyshire
