Faces lockout

DANCE on grove artistic director Jeannie Mark said on Friday while the group had cancelled its mid-year ballet at the theatre, it still hoped to run its December production, set to feature between 230 and 250 student dancers.

‘‘No-one knows what’s going to happen in the next few months.

‘‘Obviously everything is going to be impacted [by coronavirus], but I don’t want to discourage the children. They look forward to those times,’’ she said.

Trust chairman

Kevin

Moseley said the theatre suffered several blows last week, including the cancellation of Blenheim Musical Theatre’s The King and I, worth a ‘‘significant amount’’.

Moseley said there had been a drop in events over the last year, the biggest proportion being conventions, but also cancellations.

‘‘What’s happened is we’ve actually had more conventions in Marlborough, but they’ve been smaller ones that don’t suit our venue . . . that’s where we make our money,’’ he said.

Shows had also been cancelled thanks to poor sales, which the theatre had ‘‘no control over’’ and was an issue nationwide.

‘‘They haven’t got a handle on why it’s happening yet,’’ he said.

He said the theatre was putting a focus on what it could control, which were local performances, which were ‘‘doing well’’.

The councillors received the information at a council committee on Thursday, alongside other reports regarding coronavirus.

People wanting ticket refunds should contact the ASB theatre.