KIRKLEES Council has stepped in to save Huddersfield's ailing Lawrence Batley Theatre. An interest-free loan of up to £150,000 has been fixed to ease a cash crisis.
Months of low attendances have forced theatre bosses to go to town hall leaders. Too many unconventional and `fringe theatre' style shows have been blamed for poor ticket sales and empty auditoriums.
Only amateur shows have pulled in the crowds. Mystery today surrounded the position of Denis Ripley as chairman of Kirklees Theatre Trust, which runs the Lawrence Batley.
Former Labour councillor Mr Ripley denied he was still a member of the Trust and refused to make any comment.
Kirklees Council said its loan was a "one-off". The money will be released as and when it is needed.
A report to the council Cabinet said the Trust had experienced a difficult trading year in 2005/6 and faced a deficit.
Mr Ripley told the Examiner: "I am not a trustee. I don't want to make any comment."
Clr Ken Sims, deputy leader of the council, said he thought changes would be made within the makeup of the board, with new members being brought in.
He revealed there were management problems within the theatre, which he hoped would be ironed out in the future.
He said that in offering its support, the council expected the Trust's board members to look closely at widening its range of activities and events to attract more people to the theatre.
Clr Sims said: "I hope better management, teamed with a new artistic focus, will help stop the theatre from haemorrhaging more cash.
"The theatre is a key part of the cultural life of Kirklees as a whole. It is important in offering entertainment, learning and developing a wide range of community activities.
"It is important to many groups and individuals, and the council is keen to help it through its current difficult circumstances.
"We will be working closely with the theatre Trust board and staff to help wherever we can.
"But we do expect the trust board to look carefully at its programme and the potential for broadening its range of activities to attract more paying customers."
The theatre has been put under the spotlight recently for questionable programme choices. Clr Sims said: "The theatre has never made a lot of money, but it has always broken even.
"Then the Christmas show was a disaster - members of the public were not enamoured by it, and the ticket sales were down.
"Usually the money from the Christmas pantomime keeps the theatre going for the whole season."
Entitled The Magic Tree, the show was an attempt by the theatre to break away from the traditional Christmas pantomime.
Clr Sims said there had been public feeling for a while that the theatre was not catering for their needs. He said: "The theatre is putting on a lot of fringe productions which bring in a minority audience.
"It needs to look at ways to satisfy public demand and benefit the people of Kirklees. The Trust needs to have a venue that suits 100% of the people, and not just 10%."
But some recent productions have been well received. Comic poet Pam Ayres recently performed to a sell-out audience with her show In Her Own Words.
This weekend's show, An Evening with Ella, has already sold out with another date added on. The council was instrumental in establishing the Trust in 1980 and has members on its board.
Clr Sims said he was optimistic about the theatre's future and added the theatre will not be taken over by the council in the future, as the trust format is an effective way of running it.
A theatre spokeswoman said: "The LBT had a difficult year last year with some disappointing results on some shows, and the theatre is taking steps to sort out the situation. The support from Kirklees Council and the Arts Council is greatly appreciated."
