Theatres in firing line for council funding cuts

2 days ago

Martin HeathBedfordshire political reporter

News image — Theatres in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard are in the firing line for council efficiency savings

Getty Images rows of red velvet theatre seats — Theatres in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard are in the firing line for council efficiency savings

Two theatres could face funding cuts after they were named in a council's efficiency savings list.

Central Bedfordshire Council says it is having to deal with a multi-million pound shortfall - which will increase next year.

The Grove in Dunstable, described by a senior councillor as "largely showing tribute acts", and Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre, both appeared in a list of "further efficiency considerations", alongside reviews of children's centres and youth centres.

John Baker, the council's executive member for finance, said it was right to question whether public money should be used to subsidise a theatre "running up annual losses of hundreds of thousands of pounds a year".

The council is in the process of dealing with what it says is a £17m cut in government funding for the 2026/27 financial year.

Its budget for that year includes cuts to grants for voluntary organisations and community health services.

Baker said the reduction in funding would increase to £28m for the 2027/28 year, "so there are significant problems for us in the future".

Sam Read/BBC John Baker with short white hair, wearing glasses and a blue anorak over a blue and white checked shirt. He is standing in front of pink roses to the right and a car park to the left. There is an office building behind. — John Baker said the theatre was losing hundreds of thousands of pounds

Both venues are run by Everyone Theatres under a confidential contract with the council for leisure facilities.

At a meeting of the executive this week, Baker said: "With one of our theatres running up annual losses of hundreds of thousands of pounds a year and largely hosting tribute acts, we do need a thorough review of theatre operations to work out whether this is really the best use of public money when we are making savings elsewhere."

He did not clarify which of the two theatres he was describing, but the programme at the Grove Theatre for the rest of January includes tributes to Tina Turner, Neil Diamond, Take That, the Bee Gees and ELO.

Amy Holmes/BBC A white block building of long windows with green banners reading 'comedy, dance, drama, film, music and panto" - this is the Grove Theatre in Dunstable — The Grove in Dunstable is named in a list of potential efficiency savings issued by Central Bedfordshire Council

Speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio, Baker added: "We've had to have the conversation and be honest with the public and say we need to review the operations and say are the theatres doing the right thing, are they presenting the right shows?"

The council has launched a public consultation on the 2026/27 budget, inviting residents, businesses and community organisations to have their say on how the council should respond to the £17m shortfall.

It runs until 3 February.

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