'A dark day for arts and culture' - 113 jobs at risk at Norwich Theatre

More than 100 jobs are at risk at Norwich Theatre as it struggles to cope with "huge financial losses" caused by the coronavirus closure.

The theatre, which comprises three venues; Norwich Theatre Royal, Norwich Playhouse and Stage Two, has launched a "major restructure" of its 217 staff.

More than half of them, 113, are at risk of redundancy. A further 59 employees have been put on irregular zero hours contracts. A consultation process has begun.

Chief Executive Stephen Crocker said: “Our staff are the lifeblood of our organisation and my team and I have done all we can to support and protect them over these past few months and will continue to do so as we explore all options through this consultation process.

"On their behalf I remain shocked and angry that the government is standing idle as an industry that has delivered so much to this country and is so vital to its recovery is being allowed to fade into dust.

The Theatre Royal said lockdown meant it immediately lost 95% of its income. It said it was losing around £100,000 every month on essential staffing, building maintenance and other ongoing costs.

The organisation predicts it will be another six months before it can resume full-scale operations and large-scale productions.

A large proportion of its staff are employed to directly support major productions, which often see around 10,000 people attend the venue each week. 

Speaking two weeks ago, Chief Executive Stephen Crocker warned many venues could face closure.

Michael Newey, Chair of the Trustees of Norwich Theatre, said: “The coronavirus lockdown saw us immediately lose 95% of our income and this scale of ongoing financial loss is no longer sustainable. 

"We know that this is a devastating decision for our staff and every trustee wishes that we had a different way forward.

"They will all be fully supported by the Chief Executive and his team during this difficult time as the consultation process begins.

"Without Government support, we have been left with no other option if we are to make a guarantee to our audiences that we will survive this crisis and welcome them back to our buildings next year.”

Clive Lewis, Labour MP for Norwich South, said the Government's lack of support for theatres had been "scandalous".

MP Clive Lewis told ITV News Anglia theatres had been 'hung out to dry'.

He said: "The theatre has seen its income reduced to effectively zero overnight and unlike its publicly funded peers, doesn't have a cushion of existing grant funding.

"Theatres are also likely to be amongst the last sectors to get fully up and running again. Norwich Theatre Royal is one of our city's anchor institutions and I know the people who run it are in bits at the prospect of having to lay off almost half of their staff.

"If they'd listened, these jobs could have been saved and our regional theatres would be facing a less precarious future."

The theatre has been forced to cancel a host of major shows, including its pantomime.

Last month it launched the "Norwich Theatre Crisis Appeal" to try and attract donations.

It comes as the funding crisis deepens for the region's arts industry, with the pandemic keeping doors closed and curtains down.

Theatres across the east have called for more help to recover from lockdown.

The boss of Northampton's Royal and Derngate said they were "having to imagine the unimaginable and need action now."