Elgiva's panto fails to make a profit (From Bucks Free Press)

Elgiva's panto fails to make a profit

1:15pm Monday 17th February 2003 in

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Town councillors have criticised Chesham's Elgiva theatre for failing to turn a profit on its pantomime despite record ticket sales.

The theatre was accused of over-budgeting on Dick Whittington, which attracted 10,000 people over four weeks, but lost £4,000.

The panto was the fifth staged at the 300-seater Elgiva, which is heavily subsidised by Chesham Town Council and repeatedly reports annual losses.

The pantomime's annual report was reviewed at a meeting on Monday and Cllr Pauline Wilkinson was scathing about the theatre's financial problems.

Cllr Pauline Wilkinson attacked the theatre for consistently wasting taxpayers money and refused to back future proposals for the traditional festive event.

She said: "It's an appalling situation for a pantomime to be losing money.

"The Elgiva is costing taxpayers more and more money each year.

"It's plainly obvious that this venture is not paying off. We can't expect the people of this town to keep paying for this service. Enough is enough. I would not support a pantomime next year."

Other councillors offered support for future pantomime productions, but on the condition that the Elgiva's management drew up a realistic budget which could guarantee a profit of around £10,000.

Although ticket sales topped £64,000, with each of the 52 performances averaging 200 or more seats for the first time, the show failed to mirror profits made in previous years.

Theatre manager David Roden, who wrote and directed the show, blamed a drop in market interest and additional costs including the employment of four understudies.

He said: "We did forecast a loss based on our takings throughout the year and a drop in the market across the country and in the West End of 35 per cent and 23 per cent in regional theatres.

"We were also caught out by the large number of group bookings which drag ticket prices down.

"On the positive side, in the five years we have been operating pantos we've doubled audience figures and the theatre's income, so we have a lot to be proud of."

Cllr Alan Bacon, added: "It's important that we keep the tradition going without losing sight that the pantomime should be making money to support the less commercially popular events in the theatre's varied programme.

"We are confident last year was just an anomaly and Jack and the Bean Stalk will be a theatrical and financial success."