Scottish Youth Theatre to wind up after funding blow

A long-running national youth theatre company is to wind up within months after being turned down for funding by a controversial arts quango.

Scottish Youth Theatre said it had been left with no other option but to cease trading after Creative Scotland rejected a bid for long-term support.

The announcement from its board will come as a major embarrassment for the Scottish Government, which has declared 2018 an official “Year of Young People”. It also awarded Creative Scotland an extra £16.6 million in its budget settlement last December.

The quango was forced to apologise last month for the handling of recent funding cuts. It has also pledged a “root and branch review” of the way decisions were made.

Douglas Henshall, Ger- ard Butler, Kate Dickie and Karen Gillan are among the big-name actors who have come through Scottish Youth Theatre’s ranks. The company, which also counts Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Blythe Duff, Elaine C Smith, Emma Thompson and Richard Wilson among its patrons, will close at the end of July.

A statement posted on its website said Creative Scotland’s rejection had left it facing a gap of around a third of its required income.

It went on: “We have worked on many business models, a variety of cost-cutting exercises and discussed how we can better collaborate to share costs and resources with likeminded organisations.

“However, sadly, without a realistic expectation that we would be successful in securing financial support in such a limited time to meet the significant funding gap, we’re left with no other realistic option but to cease trading on 31 July .

“We remain committed to delivering our activities up to the end of the summer period with as much energy and dedication as we always have.”

A spokesman for Creative Scotland said: “We’re disappointed to learn of Scottish Youth Theatre’s plans to cease trading later this year.

“The company applied for regular funding, however, in a competitive process and within the limits of funds available, we were not able to support them through this funding route, but have been in discussions with them regarding alternative routes to support.”

The government intervened within hours of the theatre company’s announcement to urge it to “keep talking” to Creative Scotland about other potential sources of funding.

A spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Youth Theatre’s announcement will be of serious concern for many people.”

0 The Scottish Youth Theatre has been forced to close down