City arts event 'will go ahead'

The city council had criticised the theatre's management

An arts event in Derby will go ahead, no matter what happens to the troubled Playhouse theatre, officials have said.

The city council announced Derby LIVE in February - a series of plays, dance, music and poetry for several venues, including the Playhouse.

The theatre is in administration but the current board hopes to reopen it and if that happens, it probably would not be part of the programme.

But the council has confirmed Derby LIVE will go ahead anyway.

The Playhouse went into administration after both the city and Arts Council withdrew funding, citing doubts over its management.

But the venue's board was thrown a lifeline when a demand for the return of £1m in arts council funding was suspended.