St. Ives Youth Theatre - News Release
	Date:	11th January 2008
	Subject	Funding and Venue concerns force Youth Theatre to postpone Production
	Contacts	For press enquiries about St. Ives Youth Theatre, please contact Ian Lloyd on 07803 088185. More information about the St Ives Youth Theatre is available on www.siyt.co.uk

Problems with finding the right venue in St. Ives for it’s winter production, has forced St. Ives Youth Theatre to cut it’s planned performances of ‘Widows’ in February.

Commenting on the company’s predicament, St Ives Youth Theatre Chairman, Phillip Cooke said “Because of the notable lack of performance venues in the town, we have no choice but to use the Burgess Hall; in the case of our February production it is bigger than we need and the rising hire charges only serve to make this reality all the more uncomfortable. Even with exceptional ticket sales for February’s performance, we will still lose £2,000 on the show; for a charity this is significant. "

Despite it’s national reputation and acclaimed production at the Edinburgh Fringe, St Ives Youth Theatre is one of the few Theatre Companies nationally without a permanent home. “Without a permanent rehearsal and performance space,” said Mr Cooke, “SIYT will be unable to continue to have a profoundly positive impact on the lives and development of 60 young people every year.”

“Our only other option is to look at performing outside of St. Ives,“ added Cooke, “but we believe that it would be wrong to leave St Ives. It’s frustrating when we work hard to make a significant contribution to the long term well being and personal development of our members, yet at a time when Central Government is putting much emphasis on youth policies we find it so difficult to gain ongoing support locally.”

The company hope to perform ‘Widows’ at a later date and will now look towards it’s Summer Production in July, but continues to look for sources of funding and venues that will reduce the financial drain that SIYT’s currently faces. Again, this situation demonstrates the positive impact that the Corn Exchange as a venue and rehearsal studio offers – a golden opportunity to both reach out to young people and to entertain.

“Very few theatre companies – even the professionals – manage to survive without grants or support in some form,” said Mr. Cooke. “The benefits that we can deliver to the community and to the broader reputation of St. Ives in return for funding of several thousand pounds would represent excellent value for money.”

More information about the St Ives Youth Theatre is available on www.siyt.co.uk 

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