Shakespeare in the Gatehouse.

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
From article on SBC website; "The Shakespeare Festival in Stafford could be moved to the town’s Gatehouse Theatre next year to ensure it goes ahead.
A report to be discussed by Stafford Borough councillors says the cost of staging the production at Stafford Castle in 2023 would be difficult in the current financial climate.
Freedom Leisure Trust, the not-for-profit organisation who run a range of leisure and cultural services on behalf of the council, has asked for help with the increases in energy costs it is facing. On Thursday (1 December) members of the council’s Cabinet will discuss making a financial contribution as an “exceptional cost” to help ‘Freedom’ through this difficult period. And as part of the discussions the Cabinet will be asked to agree that the popular Stafford Shakespeare Festival will be hosted in the Gatehouse Theatre in the centre of town next year.
The festival returned to the Castle for a two-week run this summer having been cancelled in the previous two years due to Covid - with the organisers reporting an increase in ticket sales compared to 2019.
Councillor Carolyn Trowbridge, Cabinet Member for Leisure, said they wanted to make sure the long running festival of the bard’s work would still be performed in Stafford. “It is rightly acknowledged that our Shakespeare Festival is one of the jewels in the town’s cultural offering and, despite the difficult economic conditions, we are determined that the show must go on. “Our leisure partners are a not-for-profit organisation and, like so many, their business is being severely impacted by the huge increase in costs, not least from energy bills. “Staging the event at the castle incurs significant infrastructure costs due to the terrain and the provisions needed to protect this important heritage site and, even though the numbers attending rose from the event in 2019, it would still require a substantial subsidy to run.
“So, delivering it from our recently renovated theatre would ensure Shakespeare can go ahead in 2023 - and hopefully bring more people into the town centre. We will also not be in the hands of the gods when it comes to the weather which can have a major impact on attendance and running costs of the outdoor event at the Castle.”
The Freedom Leisure financial position has been provided to councillors in a confidential document but the report states: “officers have been given information that demonstrates the substantial set-up costs required to lay on a safe production at Stafford Castle in 2023.” And it continues: “The overall forecast net cost of the production for 2023, in the context of the energy price issue and wider budgetary pressures on the contract, is significant taking account of the above set-up costs. So, it is considered both appropriate and necessary to review alternative options for the Shakespeare production for 2023.” The ‘Freedom Leisure Contract’ report can be found from the Cabinet agenda for Thursday 1 November at [22/23 Committee Meetings](https://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/2022-2023-committee-meetings
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Not really going to be special if that is the case is it. Doubt people will rush to buy tickets and partake of the awful food offering available at the Gatehouse.

Also, if that is the case the Castle becomes more or less redundant so might as well sell the land for housing.
 

DoggedWalker

Well-Known Forumite
This is such a terrible decision. One of the great things about it is the location. I’m far less interested in going if it’s in the theatre.

We usually have a picnic in the grounds and then head in to watch the show, where’s that charm in a conventional location? It’s a no from me.

Also, I can’t believe it doesn’t turn a profit?!
 

Theresa Green

Well-Known Forumite
This is such a terrible decision. One of the great things about it is the location. I’m far less interested in going if it’s in the theatre.

We usually have a picnic in the grounds and then head in to watch the show, where’s that charm in a conventional location? It’s a no from me.

Also, I can’t believe it doesn’t turn a profit?!

You don’t believe or you don’t understand ?

Just say you don’t understand

He exclaimed
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
Gatehouse just needs you to rent it out. Stafford castle events require things to be set up? plus insurance etc... I expect it costs a fair amount. At the mercy of the weather too no doubt. Obviously if nobody goes to the Gatehouse then they won't really save a penny.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
Tory Council offloads leisure services because Tory government make councils self funding, and skint . No doubt the Tory voters are up in arms about this Shakespeare decision unable to process that it's the consequence of their voting choice that has caused this. Id10t5

In another matter, how freedom leisure can be skint after robbing so many people twice a year to run the streets of Stafford is baffling..
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
Have you thought that maybe it is just the result of the current economic climate where people just aren't going to have the money to splash out? And inflation is high in the US and Europe too.
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
Aided and abetted by the Tories whose greed saw our economy tanked?

So the Ukraine war was the fault of the government was it? that's what has caused gas prices to soar. France is less affected due to having vast nuclear power generation. We instead are at the mercy of gas prices because we scrapped coal, nuclear was canned and wind farm output has been weaker despite more capacity. You need controllable generation to meet demand, wind and solar is always going to fluctuate and requires controllable generation to back it up.

What do I know eh, I only work for an energy supplier and have to know about the industry.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
So the Ukraine war was the fault of the government was it? that's what has caused gas prices to soar. France is less affected due to having vast nuclear power generation. We instead are at the mercy of gas prices because we scrapped coal, nuclear was canned and wind farm output has been weaker despite more capacity. You need controllable generation to meet demand, wind and solar is always going to fluctuate and requires controllable generation to back it up.

What do I know eh, I only work for an energy supplier and have to know about the industry.
France is in deep shit because of its nuclear policy, or lack thereof. It's reactors are mainly old, about half of them are offline at any given time because of repairs and routine maintenance. Maintenance issues made even worse because France chose to abandon routine maintenance for 18 months, because COVID!

France relies heavily on other European countries (including the UK) selling it energy to keep the lights on and will require even more support if the winter is harsh. Most hours of the day we alone export 3gw to France, goodness knows how much is being sold by Germany and Norway etc.

Holding France up, or any body else up as a shining beacon of hope as to how to do it (apart from Norway) doesn't further your cause either.

But then you would know that being 'in the trade'.
 

kyoto49

Well-Known Forumite
So the Ukraine war was the fault of the government was it? that's what has caused gas prices to soar. France is less affected due to having vast nuclear power generation. We instead are at the mercy of gas prices because we scrapped coal, nuclear was canned and wind farm output has been weaker despite more capacity. You need controllable generation to meet demand, wind and solar is always going to fluctuate and requires controllable generation to back it up.

What do I know eh, I only work for an energy supplier and have to know about the industry.

Gas prices:
Scrapping coal
Canning wind farms

Remind me again which government did/is doing all of that?
 

Theresa Green

Well-Known Forumite
Stop this

Now


Nobody will go to a semi cantilevered shed to watch lame soap stars behave badly

Either it is ON

Or OFF
 

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
When I was doing my English Literature O level (billions of years ago) the Shakespeare play I got was Twelfth Night. We were bussed down from Kingston to Ludlow Castle to see a performance of the play outside, but in the grounds of the castle. This was done as I remember because although it's fine to read the play, seeing it played out was much more informative. (It must have worked, because I passed.)

Personally given that setting I would have preferred say: Macbeth or one of the Wars of the Roses plays, but we didn't get to choose, and since it was a warm sunny day it was pleasant enough. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have been so impressive in the Borough Hall (as it was then) but I did attend some wrestling bouts there, but they weren't very Shakespearean, more Monty Python. Good practice for staggering into the Sheridan when the foolishness had finished.

:P
 
Top