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Dateline: 29th November, 2007
Funding Crisis Closes Derby Playhouse Derby Playhouse has closed with immediate effect and 60 staff are out of a job after the theatre went into administration. But actors and staff voted to continue with Thursday evening's performance of Treasure Island, the Christmas show which had just started a nine-week run. Earlier in the day the Playhouse board rejected an emergency loan of £282,000 from the personal account of artistic director Stephen Edwards who decided to put up the money to save the theatre after insolvency experts recommended closure. The city council objected to the loan being secured against the theatre's lease. The theatre had asked Derby city council to bring forward its January grant payment because of a cash-flow problem but the authority refused. The Playhouse had asked for £140,000 from its two stakeholders, the Arts Council and Derby city council, to see it through a cash crisis the theatre blamed on disruptions caused by major alterations to the £340m Westfield shopping centre in which the Playhouse is located. The Arts Council agreed to make an advance on its grant but the council turned down the request, saying part of the problem was due to "bad management". There has been animosity between the Playhouse and local amateur groups who have not being able to stage productions in the city's major theatre. In a statement, the city council described the closure as a "great disappointment". "Now that the Playhouse board has taken the difficult decision to take the company into liquidation, the council will do all it reasonably can to ensure that the Playhouse building continues to play a crucial role in the cultural life of the city," the statement added. The authority confirmed it was in contact with the Arts Council to assess the future prospects for the theatre. A creditors' meeting is due to be held on December 20th. Steve Orme
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