A THEATRE, which has hosted some of Britain’s greatest talents, has been told to expect funding cuts.
The Lawrence Batley Theatre (LBT) will discover by how much its grants from Kirklees Council and the Arts Council will be trimmed at the end of this month.
But officials of the theatre – which last year received approximately one-quarter of its income from Kirklees and the Arts Council – hope the cuts will not be too deep.
The LBT received approximately £1m last year from grants, ticket sales, sponsorship and cash for one-off events.
The bulk of cash is spent on productions, artist fees, maintenance and staff wages.
LBT, which has hosted high-profile theatre and comedy shows, will find out what proportion of its grant from Kirklees it will receive in the next financial year.
LBT received £135,000 from Kirklees Council in 2010 and £235,000 from the council in 2009.
The Arts Council’s budget was cut by 30% in October.
The Lawrence Batley Theatre was told in October its next Arts Council grant would be cut by £8,000.
But LBT trustee Carole Ann Pattison says the modest cuts are unlikely to affect the quality of shows the theatre puts on.
Ms Pattison said: “LBT has to operate as a commercial concern and we are doing everything to ensure that things we put on will encourage people to attend. Our last season did very well.
“There’s always a worry with theatres full stop, not just LBT. They’re all heavily subsidised.
“The LBT is in a stronger position than it’s been in for a long time, but we’re not complacent and there’s always a worry.”
Ms Pattison disagreed that budget cuts would force the theatre, which has hosted edgy, alternative productions, to stage more mainstream shows to bring in larger crowds.
She said: “Every production we put on is a balance between a good piece of work and how much the costs are and how many seats we can fill.
“I don’t think it’s going to get to the point where we’re putting on rubbish.”
