Theatre staff in skydive bid to offset cash cuts
PLAYHOUSE RAISING CASH TO SAVE ITS YOUTH PROGRAMME
STAFF at Nottingham Playhouse are taking part in a skydive to keep a youth programme going following city council cuts.
The council has been forced to stop grants to cultural venues, leaving the theatre £60,502 a year out of pocket.
The venue says this is roughly the cost of running Shine, its flagship outreach programme for young people. The programme offers free weekly theatre sessions across the region, particularly focusing on deprived areas and specialist provision for sites including QMC’S Hospital School.
A Nottingham Playhouse spokesman said: “These sessions focus on confidence and skills building and provide opportunities for young people to see shows and perform here on our main stage.
“At a time when our beneficiaries have never needed us more, the Nottingham Playhouse community are taking a leap of faith to help raise vital income to address this new funding gap.”
The axing of grants to cultural venues is one of several budget measures approved by Nottingham City Council last month as it faces multi-million-pound budget shortfalls in the coming years.
Other plans approved for this financial year, which started this month, include the closure of parks and care homes and the end of the council’s pest control service.
Councillors were reluctant to approve the cuts, but their hand was forced by a government instruction. In the wake of the cuts, 38 members of the Nottingham Playhouse team will be doing tandem skydives in support of Shine on May 24. Sponsored by Skydive Langar, all donations will be going to support the continuation of the programme. Those wishing to donate should search “skydiveforshine” at www.justgiving.com. Speaking previously about the cuts to cultural venues, Nottingham Playhouse chief executive Stephanie Sirr said: “One of the things Nottingham can be truly proud of is its ability to attract and retain artists, audiences, participants and tourists. For what is already a modest investment the residents of Nottingham access a rich and high-quality offer.
“But it cannot be sustained without its strategic value being acknowledged and committed to by Nottingham City Council.
“Nottingham Playhouse has engaged and served its community for decades, committing to genuine access and engagement.
“It is an award-winning theatre with a local, regional, national and international profile, one of the celebrated facets of a city that is rich in culture.”
The council has been forced to stop grants to cultural venues, leaving the theatre £60,502 a year out of pocket.