News from Southampton Labour

Alan Whitehead MP welcomes free theatre tickets for under 26 year-olds

Alan Whitehead MP today congratulated the Nuffield theatre in signing up to the government funded scheme to offer free theatre tickets for under 26 year olds.

The Nuffield has been awarded £30,000 by the government to enable them to offer free theatre tickets to young people. It is one of 95 theatres across England will offer a proportion of the tickets for arts productions on the same night every week – free – to anyone under 26 years old. The Nuffield estimates it will be able to offer 5000 tickets to young people in 2009-10.

Alan Whitehead MP said:

“I am really proud that the Nuffield has signed up to this scheme. Labour got rid of charges at museums and galleries and now they are committed to ensuring that young people have the chance to go to the theatre for free. This will be a great opportunity for young people in Southampton as it will open their eyes to new experiences, as well as new opportunities for getting involved in the theatre for some.”

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Andy Burnham said:

“This is a brilliant start to a scheme which will deliver real value for money to the taxpayer. We are turning modest public investment into a real and enduring benefit for young people. From February they will get the chance to see excellent work in our top theatres free of charge, broadening their life experiences and supporting their education.

“Some theatres already run successful schemes to discount tickets. This will take the idea further and broader. The theatres which have signed up represent a really good spread of venues across England. Building on free access to museums, I hope and believe that what we are announcing today is just the beginning of an initiative that will, in time, similarly transform access to theatre in this country.”

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