The Dukes in Lancaster welcomed Secretary of State for Culture Sajid Javid to celebrate the theatre’s recent successes.
He was accompanied by Lancaster MP, Eric Ollerenshaw on his visit to Lancashire’s only professional producing theatre.
They were given a behind the scenes tour of the award-winning theatre as it prepared for a week-long run of the acclaimed production of Hindle Wakes and heard how 143,000 people had visited the venue in 2013/14—a record for the company.
The politicians also met representatives from Lancaster University which has signed up for a three-year cultural partnership with The Dukes aiming to develop arts, education and learning in Lancaster and provide young people from areas of social economic deprivation with high quality opportunities.