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Artistic director Peter Glanville, puppet makers Julia Gelin and David Duffy, and director Peter O’Rourke; left: a scene from Sleeping Beauty |
Puppet theatre must tighten purse strings
ISLINGTON’S much-loved puppet theatre, The Little Angel, is in serious financial trouble.
The puppet masters find themselves in financial strife because funding is going to a “money monster” – the 2012 London Olympic Games – it was claimed this week.
The tiny theatre in Dagmar Terrace may have to cancel productions next year after the Arts council of England withdrew a grant for £40,000.
It is the first time for almost five years that the Little Angel has had to put out begging bowls to its army of supporters.
The company has been run on a shoestring since it was founded 50 years ago. But supporters and cast are appalled that it could lose £40,000 – enough for an entire production, but a mere “drop in the ocean” compared to the £10billion going into the London games.
Artistic director Peter Glanville said that next month’s eagerly awaited Christmas production of Roald Dahl’s The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me is not affected by the cuts.
But he added: “We’ve had to make cuts, lose paid staff, and generally tighten our collective belts. We are having to raise money to pay for productions in the new year.”
A spokeswoman for the Arts Council confirmed that much funding
has been diverted to the London Olympics.
“However, we have a special relationship with the Little Angel, ” she added. “We are currently discussing with them the best way forward.
“This wasn’t a matter of withdrawing grants – it was that they applied for funding and this was turned down because of the competition.
“We are working on a possibility of them re-applying for funding but perhaps for a smaller sum of money.”
Meanwhile, supporters are urged to book tickets for shows. The Sleeping Beauty runs until November 9 (see Review, page X), and The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me opens on November 22.
Tickets are only £5 for
performances at 5pm on Fridays.
Supporters can also join the Build a Puppet Christmas Campaign, specifically to raise the money for the theatre.
There are different levels of support and with each level you get different benefits.
You can become a puppet set builder for £50, or a puppet maker for £150; a principal puppet maker for £1,000 and a master puppet maker for £2,500.
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