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Dateline: 3rd February, 2011
"Perverse" Derby Funding Decision The organisation responsible for produced theatre in Derby will cease to programme shows at the city's main theatre after the city council refused to back an application for Arts Council funding. Derby LIVE teamed up with the University of Derby to reopen the former Derby Playhouse but the city council has decided to support the university's bid for £726,000 from the Arts Council rather than making an application through Derby LIVE. From April next year Derby LIVE will no longer have any involvement with Derby Theatre, although it will still programme events at the city's Assembly Rooms and Guildhall Theatre. A council spokesman said, "Whilst Derby LIVE had the opportunity to submit a bid, it was agreed that Derby Theatre would submit the application to Arts Council England ... as predominantly it was felt that an organisation which had trust status better met the Arts Council's governance requirements." The council has not expanded on the reason for its decision which has stunned Derbyshire's arts community, especially after Derby LIVE's successful first year. It attracted Derbyshire-born actor Robert Lindsay to Derby Theatre for the first time in the play Onassis which transferred to the West End. And Derby LIVE director Peter Ireson scooped the TMA manager of the year award. If the Arts Council approves the university's bid, up to eighteen staff employed by Derby Live will transfer to Derby Theatre. University vice-chancellor John Coyne said, "Derby Theatre assuming control over its artistic output is a necessary step. We want an exciting future for produced theatre in the city." But the council's decision has been attacked by Lucy Gannon, writer of television series Soldier Soldier and Peak Practice, who used to live in Derby. Her play Broken Hearted was staged at Derby Theatre last year. In a letter to the Derby Telegraph she wrote, "It's Alice in Wonderland time. Derby council has withdrawn its backing from the successful, dedicated, experienced and very hard-working Derby Live team and is instead supporting a bid for funding from Derby University. "The white rabbit is running down the corridors of the Council House and the Cheshire cat is sitting, smug and impervious, above the council chamber. "Is the Arts Council really expected to view this bid from inexperienced and untested educationalists seriously when they have already made it clear that they hold Derby LIVE in high regard, and when so many established theatres are clamouring for their money? How perverse." Steve Orme
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