THE future of a college theatre is thought to be in doubt after funding cuts have seen several members of staff, including the theatre manager, take voluntary redundancy.

But Ali Foss, the principal at Queen Mary’s College, is adamant that Central Studio will remain open, although she admitted that the performance programme could “look different”.

The venue, based at the campus in Cliddesden Road, has not released a programme of performances online for beyond the end of this month or issued a printed brochure, sparking rumours that the theatre’s future could be at risk.

The college was in The Gazette last week having been issued with a financial notice to improve because it was deemed to have “inadequate” financial health.

The notice, from the Education Funding Agency (EFA), asked the college to prepare a draft financial recovery plan after the college was found to owe £4.1 million in agreed loans, which helped fund £29m of infrastructure projects.

Ms Foss said that the notice has resulted in QMC having to review “all areas of our business, including Central Studio”.

However, she added that no decisions have yet been made, and guaranteed that Central Studio will remain open.

She said “several staff from across the college, including Central Studio, have taken voluntary redundancy packages.”

However, when asked how many staff were affected, she said: “I don’t know off the top of my head.”

The Gazette heard that several members of staff working at Central Studio, including the manager, are leaving at the end of this week.

Ms Foss confirmed the manager is one of those to take voluntary redundancy, and added: “There are a couple of people leaving this Friday.”

She stressed that it is normal practice for Central Studio not to have yet released a programme of performances for next month, adding: “It looks like we are in a big crisis and we are not.

“There’s not a story. It’s business as usual. We are reviewing all our business areas. Central Studio is part of that review.”

She also pointed out that there is a programme in place for Central Studio until the end of March, but said a brochure has not been published because the review is not yet complete, and the brochure would cover until May.

She added: “Usually the brochure would have gone out by now. We are reviewing the programme beyond that point.

“We are having to look at everything on a cost basis, and that programme will be reviewed.”

When asked about who will manage Central Studio, Ms Foss said: “The post will depend on what kind of programme we will be running.”

She added: “It might look different. I can guarantee there will be a Central Studio, but the programme might look different.”

When The Gazette contacted Central Studio, we were told that there will not be another brochure printed for the theatre, but that details of future performances will be posted online.

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