Stephen Poliakoff criticises theatre funding cuts

Published: 1st April, 2011
by PETER GRUNER

WRITER and director Stephen Poliakoff has hit out at Arts Council cuts that will leave many of the borough’s top venues struggling financially.  

Both the Almeida ­Theatre and Sadler’s Wells will have their funding reduced, along with the Little Angel Puppet Theatre, which is worst affected. Despite enjoying huge popularity, it received nothing after applying for a £100,000 grant. The company gets no official grants and relies on the support from its members and charitable foundations to survive.  

The Almeida Theatre will lose £865,000 by 2015 in a 39 per cent real-terms cut. Sadler’s Wells faces a smaller, seven per cent slash to its grants.

Islington-based Mr Poliakoff, whose new play My City will be premiered at the Almeida in September, said the theatre is a victim of its own success. 

“The previous management 10 years ago had a deficit, but that has been eliminated with encouragement from the Arts Council,” he added. “Now that its finances are good, it gets a massive cut. 

“It seems very strange indeed and not a way to treat an internationally respected theatre. However, they are very resourceful and will preserve their standards.”

Little Angel manager Lyn Shanbury said: “Puppetry always seems to get sidelined.

“We manage from production to production with no guarantee of survival. We are very lucky to have some very loyal supporters and charities to help us.”

The Arts Council’s budget was slashed by more than £100million in October in the Coa­lition’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

Islington South and Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry said: “The Tory-Lib Dem government is wrong to choose to pay back the deficit in this reckless fashion. Their cuts go too far and too fast – and the Almeida is the latest in a long line of needless victims. 

“The Almeida is a theatre of world renown and Islington is rightly proud of it.”

• My City is Stephen Poliakoff’s first theatre work for 12 years. The production marks a return to theatrical roots for the former National Theatre resident play­wright who is known for his star-studded BBC dramas such as Gideon’s Daughter and Capturing Mary.

My City could kick-start a blockbuster autumn season for the Almeida. It will be followed by the UK premiere of award-winning American playwright and film director Neil LaBute’s latest play, Reasons To Be Pretty.

Michael Attenborough, who is artistic director of the Almeida, said: “I am delighted that Stephen Poliakoff has chosen the Almeida to launch his first new play for 12 years.”