Creative Scotland faces growing rebellion over funding cut for theatre now facing closure

Claims North Lanarkshire company was singled out despite claims of more funding for organisations

The Events was among the productions staged at Cumbernauld Theatre last year. Picture: Mihaela BodlovicThe Events was among the productions staged at Cumbernauld Theatre last year. Picture: Mihaela Bodlovic
The Events was among the productions staged at Cumbernauld Theatre last year. Picture: Mihaela Bodlovic | Mihaela Bodlovic

Creative Scotland is facing growing demands to reverse a funding cut for a long-running theatre company which has warned it faces going into administration.

Leading writers, performers and theatre-makers have thrown their weight behind Cumbernauld Theatre Trust amid claims it was singled out among 279 applicants.

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Treasure Island has been among the productions staged at Cumbernauld Theatre in recent years. Picture: Mihaela BodlovicTreasure Island has been among the productions staged at Cumbernauld Theatre in recent years. Picture: Mihaela Bodlovic
Treasure Island has been among the productions staged at Cumbernauld Theatre in recent years. Picture: Mihaela Bodlovic | Mihaela Bodlovic

Bosses have described Creative Scotland's treatment of the theatre company, which dates back to 1963, as "grossly unfair".

The arts charity was the only organisation in Scotland to lose long-term funding, while 141 others secured three-year support from Creative Scotland for the first time.

The Cumbernauld Theatre Trust is facing closure after losing its long-term funding from Creative Scotland.The Cumbernauld Theatre Trust is facing closure after losing its long-term funding from Creative Scotland.
The Cumbernauld Theatre Trust is facing closure after losing its long-term funding from Creative Scotland. | Supplied

Creative Scotland, which previously provided £266,000 in annual funding to the venue, has apologised for the wording of its initial announcement on its new £208 million package, after it suggested that "all organisations" that it currently funds would get a "significant uplift" in funding.

Within hours, Cumbernauld Theatre, which moved into a new building less than four years ago, had revealed the "devastating" news that it had lost its funding and was at risk of folding.

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Gary McNair is among the writers and performers to have worked with Cumbernauld Theatre.Gary McNair is among the writers and performers to have worked with Cumbernauld Theatre.
Gary McNair is among the writers and performers to have worked with Cumbernauld Theatre. | Supplied

Chief executive Sarah Price, who has vowed to pursue "every possible avenue" to secure the venue's future, said it was "unfathomable" that Creative Scotland had pulled the plug on one of the country's few "producing theatres."

Award-winning writer and performer Gary McNair said he was "stunned" when he heard about the decision.

Cumbernauld Theatre moved into a new building less than four years ago.Cumbernauld Theatre moved into a new building less than four years ago.
Cumbernauld Theatre moved into a new building less than four years ago.

He added: "Cumbernauld is a town rich in theatre history and retains a strong, loyal audience, but the theatre also serves a huge area across North Lanarkshire.

"Without regular funding support, the remaining option for that whole community to continue to engage with the quality of theatre presented at Cumbernauld is to travel to Glasgow or Edinburgh.

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"There has to be room for a review of this decision because, if not, it puts a community at serious risk of being culturally cut adrift."

Robin Hood is among the productions recently staged at Cumbernauld Theatre. Picture: Greg MacveanRobin Hood is among the productions recently staged at Cumbernauld Theatre. Picture: Greg Macvean
Robin Hood is among the productions recently staged at Cumbernauld Theatre. Picture: Greg Macvean | Greg Macvean

Theatre director and composer Andy McGregor said: "This decision seems extremely short-sighted.

"This is a new building with excellent facilities and is very well-supported. Our ticket sales in Cumbernauld were only matched by theatres in the big cities. It's a vital resource. To not support a new building, after so much investment, seems counter-intuitive. A solution has to be found."

Cumbernauld-based playwright Alan Muir said: "It would be a disaster if we lost Cumbernauld Theatre. This is a largely working-class area with limited facilities.

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“In many ways, we're adrift in the centre of Scotland - too often forgotten and overlooked in favour of cities and larger towns. The theatre is an oasis - a place to escape, dream and call home.

"This funding blow really threatens to pull the rug from beneath the feet of all the creatives, staff and supporters who have helped to make Cumbernauld Theatre such a success story.”

Simon Sharkey, former artistic director of Cumbernauld Theatre, said: "Since its inception, it has been an exemplar and a dynamo in Scottish theatre.

"It is without any doubt one of the most important theatres in Scotland, supporting emerging and established artists, backing freelancers in the development of their craft, and working at the centre of the touring circuit.

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"It is a crucial part of the foundations of Scottish theatre. Just because it doesn't sit in a city centre doesn't mean it is less worthy of support."

Joyce McMillan, theatre critic at The Scotsman, said: "This decision is just inexplicable. Cumbernauld Theatre has a lovely new building which has been very well-attended when I've been there and has a really good atmosphere.

"It is obviously very much valued by the local community because of its interesting and mixed programme of events.

"It has also been pioneering a production model which a lot of people in Scottish theatre have told me is very interesting.

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"I've seen nothing negative at all in my visits there. It seems to be a very thriving theatre and yet it's been picked out among all the venues in Scotland it has been picked out to receive no guaranteed funding at all.

"It all seems extremely strange. If Creative Scotland was unhappy with its application they should have put them into the development fund as they have done with other organisations."

Conservative MSP Meghan Gallacher said: "The decision to pull the plug on future funding for Cumbernauld Theatre is incredibly disappointing and one I hope is urgently reversed.

“This short-sighted decision now puts the future of this much-loved theatre at risk. I urge SNP ministers and Creative Scotland to work with Cumbernauld Theatre to find a positive solution and to guarantee them funding for the years ahead.”

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SNP MSP Jamie Hepburn said: “Cumbernauld Theatre is a much valued and much loved asset for the community.

"The decision by Creative Scotland is a deeply disappointing one and one I will be pursuing with them once I have had the chance to discuss the matter more fully with representatives of the theatre’s board on Monday.”

A spokesperson for Creative Scotland said: "The announcement of the largest portfolio of cultural organisations to receive multi-year funding ever seen in Scotland followed a rigorous application process where every organisation was assessed against the same published criteria.

"Sadly, not all organisations were able to meet that criteria and some have therefore been unsuccessful.

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"We understand how disappointing this must be for those applicants, including Cumbernauld Theatre. We are offering access to significant transition funding and other potential sources of future support."

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