"We fear a two tier system," say theatre stars
Judi Dench, Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi, Ian McKellen, Alan Rickman and Prunella Scales have written to Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown supporting ACE's demands for an extra £25m for regional theatre, saying that, if the money is not forthcoming, they foresee a two-tier theatre system, with the provinces taking second place to London, something which would be contrary to the government's policy of increasing access.
Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre, severely damaged by the IRA bomb of 1996, has been served a £3m writ by one of the companies involved in its rebuilding, Birse Construction. The bill is £2m more than its tender and, according to the theatre, far too much. Their own independent assessors claim that real figure should be no more than £1.4m. A provisional court date has been set for October.
All other creditors for the rebuilding have been paid.