Council committee condemns incorrect report on Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Dec 2 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE board of Pitlochry Festival Theatre has “excellent forward planning” with “very long-term commitment” agreed an influential council committee.

The meeting came in the wake of Press speculation that the Theatre in the Hills could close before Christmas.

The popular venue had to re-configure its finances after being struck a huge blow when the Scottish Arts Council, now Creative Scotland, withdrew its annual core funding of nearly £300,000.

That blow was followed by the severe weather last December which threw a cold blanket over the theatre’s first-ever pantomime season.

The PFT board formulated a business model to maximise income and ensure the long-term sustainability of the popular venue as a cultural asset.

And one element of this business model was to request from Perth and Kinross Council an interest-free loan of £200,000 re-payable over the next 10 years.

Members of the council’s strategic policy and resources committee unanimously agreed to the loan, acknowledging the contribution the theatre makes to the Perthshire economy and cultural scene.

Committee convener Ian Miller decried the "totally misleading report" in last week’s PA, stating: "Let me make it clear, this situation [at PFT] has only been brought about by short-term changes in the support funding from Creative Scotland.

Committee convener Ian Miller blasted: “Let me make it clear, this situation [at PFT] has only been brought about by short-term changes in the support funding from Creative Scotland.

“There is no threat to the future of Pitlochry Festival Theatre. Indeed, I believe they have an exciting and viable future.

“The impact they have is enormously important for Perthshire’s economy. I believe it is absolutely the right thing to do for this council to offer our support to deal with the current funding situation and I hope that all members will recognise the crucial role PFT performs in supporting the economic well-being of the Highland Perthshire area.”

All members were supportive of the funding package and unanimous in their condemnation of “incorrect facts” in Press reports.