‘Our regional theatres are engines of growth. Labour should help them thrive’

Growing up in Norfolk, where my mother ran the local arts centre in King’s Lynn, I saw the difference arts and culture can make to people’s lives. Theatres and cultural venues bring communities together, give people opportunities to discover their talents, and help shape the identity of the places we call home.

That experience has stayed with me throughout my political career, including my time as a councillor responsible for culture in Southwark. I have seen the extraordinary contribution that local cultural organisations make, but also the challenges they face after years of underinvestment. For too long, arts and culture were treated as an optional extra, with local authorities forced to make difficult choices as their budgets were squeezed.

I am proud that this Labour government recognises the importance of our creative industries to its mission for national renewal. Our Creative Industries Sector Plan places creativity at the heart of our economic ambitions, while the government’s £1.5 billion investment in cultural infrastructure represents a significant commitment to protecting and renewing the venues that communities depend on.

READ MORE: ‘Labour must put culture at the heart of their youth mental health plan’

This investment matters enormously. It also presents an opportunity to think more broadly about how we support the different organisations that make up our cultural landscape. 

One group deserving greater recognition is the independent, not-for-profit regional theatre sector, represented by the newly established Regional Independent Theatre Alliance (RITA). RITA brings together six regional theatres operating through a distinctive model – including Norwich’s own Theatre Royal. Its members are charitable organisations that reinvest their surpluses into artistic programmes and their communities, while meeting their day-to-day operating costs through earned income rather than recurrent public subsidy.

This offers a third way alongside the publicly subsidised and commercial theatre sectors, combining a strong public and charitable purpose with the financial discipline and entrepreneurial approach needed to operate at commercial scale.

The economic contribution of these theatres is considerable. Figures from RITA’s five founding members show that they collectively generate more than £83 million in annual income, support over £27 million in local supply-chain spending and bring an estimated £54.4 million in audience spending into their local economies each year.

That spending supports jobs and businesses well beyond the theatre doors. Restaurants, pubs, hotels, transport providers and local suppliers all benefit when audiences come into our town and city centres. RITA estimates that its five founding members generate more than £797 million in economic impact over five years.

For a government rightly focused on place-based growth, these are figures worth paying attention to. Yet despite their contribution, these organisations face a particular challenge when it comes to accessing investment. Our existing funding arrangements have largely developed around two models: organisations receiving ongoing public support through Arts Council England, and commercial producers and operators benefiting from measures such as Theatre Tax Relief. Independent charitable theatres that fund their own operations can find themselves poorly served by capital funding arrangements, even when they have a strong track record and viable plans for growth.

Become a friend of LabourList and join our community. Our friends support our vital non-factional work and get access to exclusive content and events. 

RITA has put forward a constructive and timely proposal ahead of the Autumn Budget. The Alliance is calling for a £60 million matched capital co-investment fund over five years, equivalent to £12 million annually, to help independent regional theatres modernise their buildings, improve accessibility, reduce energy costs and expand their capacity to generate income.

Crucially, the proposal would not provide ongoing subsidies for day-to-day operations. Public funding would be directed towards capital projects, released against evidenced plans and delivery milestones, and designed to unlock additional private, commercial and charitable investment.

I believe this is precisely the kind of partnership that fits well with Labour’s ambitions for devolution and regional growth. Our theatres are rooted in their communities. Investment in these institutions can help local leaders deliver on their ambitions for stronger and more vibrant town and city centres.

We must also remember that access to culture is closely connected to opportunity. I have argued for creative education to be available to every child, regardless of their background or where they grow up. A strong network of regional theatres helps make that ambition meaningful, providing opportunities for young people to experience live performance, develop their interests and imagine careers in the creative industries

Labour has made a welcome start in recognising the economic and social value of culture. As we look towards the Budget, there is an opportunity to build on that progress by ensuring that our approach to investment reflects the diversity of organisations delivering for communities.

Our independent regional theatres have demonstrated what can be achieved through local leadership, commercial resilience and a commitment to public benefit. With the right partnership from government, they can make an even greater contribution to the creative economy, our high streets and the cultural life of communities across Britain.

Members of Parliament can play their part by meeting the independent theatres serving their constituencies, championing their contribution to local growth, and making the case for the investment they need to thrive. 

Subscribe here to our daily newsletter roundup of Labour news, analysis and comment– and follow us on TikTok, Bluesky, WhatsApp, X and Facebook. You can also write to our editor to share your thoughts on our stories and share your own. The best letters are published every Sunday.

• • SHARE: If you have anything to share that we should be looking into or publishing about this story – or any other topic involving Labour– contact us (strictly anonymously if you wish) at [email protected].
  • SUBSCRIBE: Sign up to LabourList’s morning email here for the best briefing on everything Labour, every weekday morning.
  • BECOME A FRIEND: If you enjoyed this, why not consider becoming a Friend of LabourList? Help sustain our journalism, and of course Friends do get benefits…
  • PARTNER: If you or your organisation might be interested in partnering with us on sponsored events or projects, email [email protected].
  • ADVERTISE: If your organisation would like to advertise or run sponsored pieces on LabourList‘s daily newsletter or website, contact our exclusive ad partners Total Politics at [email protected].