Final curtain for city's theatre

A Lincoln theatre faces closure in six months after the city council pulled its funding for the venue.

Theatre Royal manager Chris Moreno said the loss of the £180,000 grant from the council had forced the venue to close its doors.

Lincoln City Council said the decision was made as part of an attempt to make annual budget savings of £1.5m by 2012.

The Grade II listed building belongs to the city council, but is run by an independent board.

Mr Moreno said: "I spent 32 years keeping the theatre open, because people wanted it. If they now don't want it, that's fine. But I think at least the public should be allowed to make their own decisions."

'Struggling economy'

The city council, which announced the decision to withdraw its funding of the theatre a week ago, had said it was conducting a review of all its services to save money.

City Councillor Hilton Spratt said the tough economic conditions had forced the council to make some cuts.

"The council is struggling, the government is struggling, the world is struggling with the economy, you might think is the Theatre Royal is a reasonable project to put money in?"

The council funding ends in March and the theatre will close then, Mr Moreno said.