The Stage

Scottish Opera jobs under threat

Published Tuesday 20 January 2004 at 12:35

Scottish Opera chief executive Chris Barron has warned of substantial job losses as the company embarks on a period of radical change enforced by the Scottish Executive.

Management consultant David Pirnie has been appointed by culture minister Frank McAveety to oversee the opera’s transformation in an attempt to secure a viable future for the cash-stricken organisation.

The opera company, which has accrued debts of almost £3 million, appealed to the executive earlier this year for an additional £1.5 million on top of its annual £7.5 million grant from the Scottish Arts Council but was refused.

In a confidential memorandum to staff, Barron said: “The continued capping [of the £7.5 million grant from SAC] will have a fundamental effect on the artistic output, size and shape of the company and therefore on us - the workforce.”

Up to 80 of the current staff of 200 could be laid off and Barron is set to begin formal consultations with the three main unions involved - Equity, the Musicians’ Union and Bectu.

Pirnie is expected to meet with Bryan Beattie, specialist adviser to McAveety, later this week to discuss details in shaping the new Scottish Opera and how to address areas such as social inclusion, education, touring and outreach work.

An internal management team has also been established to oversee the change process and will give its recommendations to the Scottish Executive and SAC in February.

•Scottish Opera has been nominated for a South Bank Show Award for the first time. Its production of the Ring Cycle, performed at the Edinburgh International Festival in August, was nominated for the Opera Award, which will be presented by Dame Josephine Barstow at the Savoy Hotel on Friday. The other nominees are Glyndebourne Festival Opera for Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde and Channel 4 for The Death of Klinghoffer.