LORNA MARSH A theatre company that has benefited hundreds of thousands of children over quarter of a century is to close in April as a result of cuts in its funding.

LORNA MARSH

A theatre company that has benefited hundreds of thousands of children over quarter of a century is to close in April as a result of cuts in its funding.

Trustees of Tiebreak Theatre, in Norwich, have decided they have no choice but to shut down after Arts Council England withdrew its £100,000 a year subsidy.

Norfolk County Council has also announced it would be slashing grants to community groups following the meagre settlement proposed by central Government.

The arts council wants to put its money into creating a single youth company for all the six counties in the East.

Dianne Hancock, artistic director of Tiebreak, said: "It would be wonderful if someone on a white horse could come along, and if a large amount of funding was offered trustees would reconsider the decision."

Ms Hancock said unless a miracle occurred the group, which formed in 1981, would close on April 14.

Alex Taylor, communications officer for the Arts Council England, East, said the decision was made following a review of children's theatre "to ensure that young people throughout the East of England have the best opportunities to be involved with theatre and performing arts".

"The outcome of the review is the creation of a new, better-resourced theatre company that will work with children and young people in Norfolk and elsewhere in the region."

The only other income Tiebreak, which employs three people full time, received was £12,000 from local authorities and a tiny sum from its productions, which is way below the funding it needs to keep afloat.

It also employed local writers, actors, composers and musicians on short-term contracts.

www.tiebreak-theatre.com