Birmingham Rep 'disappointed' about council funding cut

Birmingham Repertory Theatre have released a statement following the announcement that Birmingham City Council will be cutting their funding next year.

The council have proposed a 62 per cent cut in funding for 2017/18, which equates to £325,000, and will reduce the funding they receive to £200,000.

Today, the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport select committee said there should be a "better regional balance" of government arts funding.

In a statement, Angela Maxwell, chair of Birmingham Rep said: "Whilst we understand the financial difficulties the city council faces, we are very disappointed that it has again chosen to impose such heavy cuts to the arts and culture sector.

"This cut will severely limit our ability to continue to produce the year-round programme of high quality theatre and education & community work that the city rightly expects from us."

Productions at the theatre this year have included Nikolai Foster's The Importance of Being Earnest and an adaptation of the film The Exorcist staring Adam Garcia.

Executive director Stuart Rogers said: "A cut of this magnitude means that Birmingham City Council is now giving The REP less than we have to spend on the basic overheads and upkeep of the theatre – a building that is owned by the city council."

In March, Rogers gave us a tour of the theatre, as part of our Regional Theatre Focus, which you can see below.