Clwyd Theatr Cymru is trying to attract more visitors

Flintshire County Council has agreed to give Clwyd Theatr Cymru �44,000 in match-funding to attract �201,820 from the Arts Council of Wales.

The money will be spent on refurbishing the 28-year-old Mold theatre.

A spokesman for Clwyd Theatr Cymru refused to comment on the proposals.

The money is expected to be spent on refurbishing the Emlyn Williams Theatre, the foyer and upstairs coffee bar.

The theatre has had financial pressures in the past and in 2002 the Welsh Assembly Government agreed to pay off its �1m debts to Flintshire Council.

Quality drama

More recently the Welsh Assembly Government stepped in with a one-off grant of �100,000 to get the company's mobile theatre back up and running.

It was withdrawn two years ago when its commercial sponsorship ran out.

The re-introduction of the mobile theatre and a shuttle bus to bring people to the Mold venue will help the organisation's finances and ensure theatre lovers can access quality drama.

Clwyd Theatr Cymru now receives two-thirds of its funding from the Arts Council of Wales.

Flintshire Council provides the remainder.

The theatre's director Terry Hands has constantly challenged ministers to ease the funding crisis for the arts in Wales.