The Stage

Support the theatre

Published Tuesday 11 December 2007 at 11:15

Further to the sad news regarding Derby Playhouse, I would like to gain your interest in the follow-up activities you may have heard about.

I have created a group on the social networking website Facebook, which currently has nearly 3,000 members. This includes many actors and other theatre workers, as well as theatre-lovers who have no association with Derby Playhouse, but see it as a moral wrongdoing against theatre in general. There are members from as far afield as Australia, Barbados and Fiji. Out of this group came a stand alone website www.savederbyplayhouse.org.

There was also a protest outside the Derby City Council headquarters, where upwards of 300 people came to peacefully protest against the closure. This included many members of the Playhouse’s Youth Theatre, as well as staff, actors, volunteers, audience and the general public. This was covered by the local TV, radio and newspaper. Further protests are planned for the coming weeks.

I have been interviewed by the local press specifically about the Facebook site and also about the protest. This has now started to generate national interest.

I am one of those made redundant from the Playhouse. I was three weeks into a promotion from theatre administration assistant to sales officer, so I was not very high up in the theatre, but I am trying to make a difference in the best way that I can.

Matthew Clay

Email supplied