Theatres face closure as Rachel Reeves’ Budget blamed for ‘additional challenges’

and museums in the UK could close as Chancellor ‘ Budget is blamed for the latest crisis.

Since the beginning of the century, more than 500 museums have closed their doors, and hundreds of theatres are currently facing closures.

Now, those in the sector are urging the to invest heavily in it as new challenges arise from the and rise in employer national insurance contributions.

While the industry has been in trouble for years, following , the sector is said to have gone into a deeper hole.

Hannah Essex is the co-chief executive for SOLT (Society of London Theatre) and UK Theatre, the country’s leading membership organisation for theatre and the performing arts.

She said: “We have a world-leading theatre sector that prides itself on its creativity and passion and is beloved by audiences across the country. However, theatres are having to cope with ever-increasing financial pressures.

According to a report by SOLT and UK Theatre, in the next decade, one in five venues will need at least £5 million of investment to continue operation and without investment, 40% of them could close in the next five years.

In reference to Rachel Reeve’s budget, Hannah Essex added: “Theatres are now facing additional challenges, with the rises in business costs with national insurance and national living wage increases, adding to the fragility of the sector and resulting in many theatres facing difficult decisions.

“We are working with the government to identify ways to put the sector on a more stable footing and unleash the potential for growth in communities across the country.”

Theatres Trust has identified around 1,110 theatres operating across the country. For every £1 spent on a theatre ticket, an extra £1.40 is generated in the local economy, according to SOLT and UK Theatre’s report.

A spokesperson for culture, media and sport secretary, Lisa Nandy, said: “We are committed to supporting arts and culture and the essential role they play in developing creative skills in people of all ages and backgrounds.

“We are working closely with local authorities to ensure these opportunities are open to everyone, wherever they live, by providing more money for councils to help fix the foundations of local government. Our package of cultural structure funding will support arts and cultural venues up and down the country.

“On top of this, we are providing tax reliefs to museums, galleries, theatres and orchestras to ensure they can share their world-class productions and collections with more audiences.”