 |
|
|
||||||
|
News
|
||||||
|
News
|
Dateline: 14th March, 2008
Courts to Settle Derby Drama Derby Playhouse Ltd has lodged a last-minute legal appeal against an Arts Council demand for a refund of £1.4m. The move is a final measure by the board to keep control of the theatre which went into administration last December. Former artistic director Stephen Edwards submitted the paperwork to a London court only minutes before the deadline. The directors are disputing the Arts Council's claim for money given to the Playhouse more than 18 months ago as part of a recovery package. ACE said that when the company ceased trading, its grant to the theatre became a loan and had to be repaid. The Arts Council last month decided not to fund Derby Playhouse Ltd for the next three years but confirmed its commitment to produced theatre in Derby and gave the city council a three-year grant of £2.3m. The city council has announced a new programme called Derby Live which will use at least five venues in the city including the Playhouse and Playhouse Studio. But nothing can be programmed until the courts decide if the Arts Council, as the major creditor, has a valid claim for a refund. City council cabinet member for leisure and direct services Alan Graves criticised the move. "If the Derby Playhouse Ltd board are so determined to get live theatre in Derby, why are they holding up the process by putting in this legal challenge?" he said. "I've no idea how long it will take but it will not be a short process. We will not be able to open the Playhouse building until that's resolved. It could take three, six, 12 months. It's a great shame for Derby. "They (the Playhouse board) don't have live theatre at their heart, as they say they have." Steve Orme
Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
|
|||||
|
|
