Save The Northcott! - Lib Dems Turn Out To Support Exeter's Northcott Theatre

9.41.59pm GMT Sun 13th Jan 2008

Lib Dems At Northcott Protest - Cllr. Sally Morgan (Central Devon PPC) , Richard Younger-Ross (Teignbridge MP), Graham Oakes (Exeter PPC) and Cllr Brian Greenslade (Leader of DEvon County Council)

Local Lib Dem MPs and activists including Central Devon PPC Sally Morgan turned out in force to support the demonstration to save Exeter's Northcott Theatre.

Like many other regional theatres The Northcott is facing the threat of closure after discovering it is to lose its annual £547,000 Arts Council England (ACE) grant from April 2009.

The news comes as the Devon venue reopens following a £2.1 million redevelopment. The cuts could lead to closure and the loss of 58 jobs from 2009. This is despite the fact that ACE has just contributed £100,000 to the redevelopment scheme. This is a bitter pill for the theatre's 58 staff to swallow who had no inkling at all that this was going to happen. Everyone who supports and works for Exeter Northcott has the right to feel very angry indeed.

The chairman of the Northcott Theatre board Steve Gratton said: "The only chance for the theatre is if the people of Exeter and Devon make their feelings known to the Arts Council. Theatregoers face losing their theatre and staff face losing their jobs. We understand the arts council will make its final decision on January 21. We need to gather as many expressions of support as possible by then."