Eddie Izzard and Kevin Spacey celebrate the launch of Labour’s free theatre scheme

By Andy Burnham

Because I know how life changing theatre can be, I was proud to launch A Night Less Ordinary with the support of Eddie Izzard and Kevin Spacey.

This scheme means that if you’re under 26 and want to try something different, then you can get free theatre tickets to some of the best shows around.

In the same way Labour opened up access to our great museums and galleries, we are now extending this principal through to the performing arts.

We are unlocking seats that might otherwise have remained empty, providing great value for money for young people, and ensuring we open up theatre to as many people as possible.

This new scheme sees Labour values in action. Labour has always believed in making the best in life available to everyone, so it’s incredibly exciting to imagine our theatres full to bursting point with young people.

The Tories have already talked down the free theatre scheme on a number of occasions. This is typical of the Tories – when Labour introduced free entry into our museums and galleries the Tories opposed this and now, nearly 10 years later, they are still uncomfortable supporting a scheme that widens access to the theatre for young people.