Fresh threat to Ayckbourn

The Scarborough theatre run by Sir Alan Ayckbourn is being threatened with a cut again from local politicians just weeks after the "luvvies or lavvies" row in which it was competing for cash with public lavatories.

Sir Alan won the battle to stop Scarborough council cutting its funding by pounds 50,000 of the Stephen Joseph Theatre-In-The-Round. But now an even bigger cut is threatened by North Yorkshire County Council. It is to debate terminating its pounds 70,500 grant, about one-sixth of the theatre's regular public funding.