Ayckbourn wins battle of luvvies versus lavvies

A tale of two theatres: Scarborough's famous theatre is saved but London's historic opera venue seems destined to go dark dark

A theatre opened by the playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn has been rescued from financial ruin.

The Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough is to get an extra pounds 50,000 a year for five years from the town council. However, it will not be a contest between "luvvies and lavvies", said council leader Mavis Don as she appealed to members to support the theatre.

Ms Don said the extra money for the theatre would come from the tourism budget and would not jeopardise other services or be used at the expense of the town's 22 public lavatories. Earlier, it had been reported that 22 public lavatories would have to close if funding for the pounds 5m theatre went ahead.

"I'm not a luvvy, but I do think we should be able to offer people the joy and experience of live theatre," said councillor Jane Kenyon.

Opponents of the extra funding had feared that the theatre would see the public purse as a bottomless pit. Ms Kenyon said the time had come to say no.

"It's time this theatre learned to stand on its own feet. There are other leisure, sports and arts organisations that could do with this money."

Sir Alan opened his new theatre in April last year. The premises are much admired in theatrical circles. The complex has two theatres, a cinema, an education centre for children, bars and restaurants. Productions have been critically well received, attendances have doubled

But it has operating costs of pounds 800,000 and is expected to slip pounds 200,000 into the red by March 1998. This is in spite of grants of pounds 622,700 from the district and county councils and Yorkshire & Humberside Arts.

Scarborough council is paying pounds 141,000 towards the theatre, the same as it was when it was based at a converted grammar school at Westwood. Now, in the revamped Odeon Cinema, it is twice the size and twice as expensive to run.

The council was not expected to begin paying its full share of pounds 191,000 towards the theatre's bills until 1999, when National Lottery cash runs out.

Chairman of the Theatre Trust, Charles MacCarthy, said he was delighted at the decision and the support the councillors have given to them.

He said: "They have taken a responsible attitude towards the future of the theatre which is now far more secure."

The issue had triggered a heated debate in Scarborough. Sir Alan has attacked the "boozy culture of the fishing and seaside resort".

He said: "If you happen to be teetotal in this town, then God help you - because there is little else to do apart from get drunk and buy shoes. They are preparing this town for a living hell. I like to shop and drink as much as the next man, but when you sober up in your new shoes, you feel there must be more to life."

Residents attacked the theatre in local newspapers, describing it as an expensive white elephant. Sir Alan retaliated by saying that many people only came to Scarborough because of the theatre and there was an onus on the council to invest in its star attraction. He tempered the criticisms of the area, however, adding: "I'd love to say the problem is only with a few people in Scarborough. But all this reflects general British attitudes to art, which is almost a dirty word."

A year ago, he was hailed as a saviour for transforming his adopted home town's derelict Odeon cinema into a gleaming new theatre. It now stages world premieres of his plays before they go to the West End.