So sad to read of group closure

It was with great sadness that I read your article in last week's issue about the closure of the Bexhill Amateur Dramatic Group.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Mar 2016, 15:08 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:27 BST

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Eighty-one years in existence is a great achievement and I remember well how much theatre played an essential part in my education.

This closure will be a great loss to Bexhill and I congratulate the group on all they have done.

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What made me even more angry however was the fact that this charitable organisation had to pay an excessive charge to another exceptionally well funded charity the De La War Pavilion.

This so called People’s Palace seems to be very much closed throughout the weekly evenings.

Its ticket prices, bar prices and restaurant prices are exceptionally high.

It seems to be making its appeal to aspiring out of towners who can afford the high prices the DLWP charges.

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What I find incredible is that it charges a not-for-profit drama group a very large fee for being allowed to perform local works by local people at this establishment.

Surely both Rother Council and East Sussex County Council to ensure that their premier performance venue should be under a legal obligation to ensure that their facilities are available to local groups to access at a small charge?

A maximum number of days per year could be handed to local groups who have no performance space of their own.

We could have regular performances from organisations like BATS ; afternoon tea dances for local people and those in nursing homes and concerts on Sunday afternoons with local performers providing reasonably priced entertainment for those who are unwilling or unable to travel to the theatres in Eastbourne or Hastings.

We need a space for our community.

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Local people of all ages involved in their local theatre would indeed make the De La War once again a People’s Place.

Mike Griffiths

Chantry Avenue

Bexhill

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Related topics:BexhillEast Sussex County CouncilBatsPeopleFacebook