Derby Playhouse must be more amateurish

The Playhouse Theatre will have to cater more for the amateur sector and work closely with the public to hold on to its money from the council.

Derby City Council cut the theatre's funding from £407,500 to £395,275, in the current budget after its review of all arts groups found it was one of the poorest performers.

Now the council is insisting the theatre develops local talent - or else it could stop or even claw back its funding.

The funding agreement, signed in March, has nine main conditions including that the Playhouse will develop a "supportive relationship with Derby's amateur theatre community" and provide "a youth theatre, community theatre and kids club."

The Playhouse will also have to consult amateur dramatics groups by the end of May and publish an action plan by June 30 outlining how it will support and improve their access to the theatre.

The agreement is much more specific than last year's, which had just four main conditions about outreach, education and volunteering programmes while staging year-round theatre.

This year's conditions have been welcomed by amateurs. But Damon Parkin, spokesman for Derby Playhouse, said it already had a youth theatre.

"We value our partnership with Derby City Council and are pleased that after completing this annual process we are now working on an exciting series of productions alongside our educational and community-based programmes.

"That work includes our Youth Theatre production of The Tempest, in June, which will feature around 60 local youngsters under a professional director.

"Over 12,000 adults and children benefited from our participation programme, workshops, education days and tours last year and we'll continue to build on the success of our Hot Tickets scheme, which saw 3,776 tickets distributed to a diverse range of 99 community groups in 2006."

The council said it had been working closely with the Playhouse.

Ray Rippingale, assistant director for cultural services, said the agreement would bring the Playhouse closer to the public.

"This is an important step for both the Playhouse and the council, because we have begun to look beyond the artistic success of the theatre thus far to plan for a developing relationship with its public," he said. "Over the coming months, we will be helping Derby Playhouse to develop its collaboration with the amateur sector, build an education programme and create a reputation for equalities and diversity in its business."

Amateur dramatic companies have welcomed the clauses in the agreement.

Tina Webster, director of Kaleidoscope Players in Derby said her group had never established links with the Playhouse.

"I think it would be nice for them to nurture a relationship with amateur theatre companies better.

"We would be in favour of them doing training workshops and those sorts of things which they used to do but which have fallen by the wayside."

The Playhouse could seek advice from the Derby City Council, as they continually act like a bunch of amateurs in their day to day handling of ratepayers cash.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-28 06:00:37

'Ave it small...

Peter Kay is to play his next gig in a tiny Cheshire pub, its landlord has announced.

During his Mum Wants A Bungalow tour, Kay played the 19,000-seat MEN Arena in Manchester - but now he is being advertised at the 90-capacity Ox-Fford pub in Macclesfield.

And Jack Dee and Roy Chubby Brown will follow in his footsteps, landlord Darren Bennifer says.

Kay's appearance in May will be in aid of the local East Cheshire Hospice, and he will just mingle with the punters, since there's nowhere for him to perform.

Bennifer, a former manger of Jongleurs in Watford said 'I want to put this pub on the map.

'We're getting the exact date for Peter Kay next month, but he will be playing some time in May. We're also getting Jack Dee, Roy Chubby Brown and others too.

'The pub capacity is about 85 people but we could probably get 90 in if we move a few things about.'

'Our booking promoter is a mate of mine who knows a lot of people in the business.

'I can't tell you how he manages to book the acts, because it's through various favours and connections. If I did then every landlord in Macclesfield will be trying to book big names.

Bennifer has already attracted Bernard Manning, who performed there last Thursday. His act lasted 45 minutes with swear words and 2.69 minutes without.

Chris Sabian, Peak District View - 2007-04-01 02:19:28