The Stage

Funding cuts force Lancaster Dukes to axe producing work

Published Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 14:50 by Lalayn Baluch

The Dukes theatre in Lancaster is being forced to axe 80% of its large-scale producing work following a 50% funding cut by Arts Council England.

Under a new business plan developed in-line with the dramatic subsidy decrease - which will see ACE investment fall from £507,000 to £260,000 in April 2008 - main-house productions will be cut from five to one, and the space will be re-established as a touring venue.

It is hoped by 2011, the main auditorium will host 79 performances by visiting companies, almost double the current level of 43, in order to generate an additional income of £120,000.

The Dukes’ remaining four in-house productions will be moved to its studio space, saving more than £200,000 annually.

Amanda Belcham, chief executive of the Dukes, explained the venue would be extending programming to include dance, music, and comedy. She said: “We still aim to produce a similar number of works, but they will be on a different scale and they will all be within the studio. Work that is contemporary, bright and lively, dynamic, interesting, that will attract people to come and see it, and encourage debate amongst audiences, among students.”

From January until September 2008, no theatrical performances will be held on site while sound proofing work is carried out in the studio - but the annual outdoor production in Williamson Park is scheduled to go ahead in July.

A £6 million development for the venue is now being proposed, as part of a larger retail complex in the area. Under the scheme the Dukes would be reconfigured to include a 400-seat theatre, re-situated studio, and education area.

According to Belcham, a new director who will be responsible for both artistic and commercial opportunities will be appointed by the end of the month. She declined to comment on how this would affect existing staff, including current artistic director Ian Hastings, but added that “there will be changes to be made”.

Michael Eakin, ACE North West executive director, said: “Currently the Dukes is funded at a level appropriate for a full-time producing theatre but the amount of home-produced work and the audience attendance figures are relatively low. This represents poor value for public money.”

Eakin added that the Dukes’ board, Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council accepted the call for a new business model, and he believes the theatre’s new plan will offer a better return on public investment.