Tue 15 Jul 2008
UPDATE - We are delighted to let you know we now have a meeting arranged with Councillor John Procter to discuss the 2009 Leeds Shakespeare Festival. This is on the 2nd September and we will report any progress as we have it. Please continue to write in support as indicated below.
After a number of meetings with Leeds City Council over several months, discussing various possibilities of Council support for the 14th Leeds Shakespeare Festival and including a verbal offer by us to hire the venue for 2 weeks in August, we have sadly to announce that there will not be a Leeds Shakespeare Festival in 2008. We received a polite email from the Council at 5pm today:
Robert
After a series of lengthy consultations with my officers this week I have come to the conclusion that it is simply too late in the day to put on an event of the calibre you are usually associated with this year.
Notwithstanding the financial difficulties you are having, there are still very serious health and safety as well as security concerns associated with the event you propose.
As any event would utilise the Events Licence that is held by officers within the council, which in turn makes them personally liable, I am sure you can understand my concerns.
There is also the significant risk posed to the professional reputation of both the British Shakespeare Company and Leeds City Council on putting on a very much stripped down performance.
I would stress that this is a final decision but I can assure you that this has been given detailed consideration over a number of months.
I am still open to discussion with regards to future events.
Kind regards
JOHN
Councillor John Procter,
Executive Member for Leisure
Conservative Group Whip
Wetherby Ward
IN RESPONSE
In response, it must be pointed out that we have never, in 13 years, had any health, safety or security problems.
The ’stripped down performance’ referred to in the Council’s email, was a reference to our offer of only doing one show this year (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) rather than our usual 2 shows. The quality of the work would have been to our usual high standards.
It is completely untrue that if the festival is performed on the council license they are personally responsible for the event.
The festival brings work to many local businesses in and around Leeds. All design / marketing / printing (posters, programmes, banners and leaflets) is done in Leeds. Leeds’ hotels, cafés, restaurants, pubs and shops have benefitted from 20 cast and crew being in Leeds for a whole month as well as thousands of visiter for the Festival. We know supporters visit from as far away as Canada, and in doing so stayed at Leeds’ hotels, dined in Leeds’ restaurants and spent money in Leeds’ shops.
There is of course the cultural benefit of a month long Shakespeare Festival attended by all ages and backgrounds.
In 13 years we have never received financial support from Leeds Council, the Arts Council or the Lottery. The cost of staging the festival has risen dramatically in recent years and without a major sponsor and Council backing, this years event simply cannot proceed.
We are keen to work with the Council to bring The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing (or A Midsummer Night’s Dream) to the Leeds Shakespeare Festival in 2009 and would welcome your positive emails to Councillor John Proctor requesting Council support. We need to get a commitment from the Council for 2009 as soon as possible.
I do feel that I have let the people of Leeds down, in failing to negotiate a Festival for 2008. I wish to thank you, our supporters, for the many messages of support that we have received.
I want to publicly thank Councillor Bernard Atha OBE, a dedicated and tireless public servant that has always been on hand to offer support and without whom the event would not have been realized for so many years. Also Kirkstall ward Councillor Lucinda Yeadon for trying to convince the powers that be not to stop the event.
We are available to talk to the council at any time about the future of the festival but at present we are unable to get any response to our requests for a meeting.
Please send any messages of support for the event to Councillor John Procter john.procter@leeds.gov.uk although they will only now respond with a form e-mails and the e-mails will not be read. I know this as we sent an enquiry from a member of my staff and they just sent back the form e-mail as they had not read it. So I would propose writing to the Yorkshire Post Newspapers - Evening Post address is eped@ypn.co.uk and Yorkshire Post Editor is yp.editor@ypn.co.uk. This support is essential if the event is to continue.
Thank You
RJW
23 Responses to “No Leeds Shakespeare Festival in 2008”
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July 15th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I would like to predict that Leeds will never be a European City of Culture.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
For next year if the council are unrelenting thier stubborness perhaps you would consider investigating moving the event to one of the Abbey’s outside Leeds e.g. Bolton Abbey.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
What a sad outcome! Having been to and thoroughly enjoyed last years performance I was planning on arranging a few parties of friends to go see both performances this year. I am thoroughly disappointed that you cannot come.
As an alternative venue - would you consider Ripley castle or Roache Abbey near Maltby? Both would make excellent venues and are in travelling distance.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Such a shame - I have attended for each year since the beginning and will miss this excellent event. Perhaps if Leeds City Council looked for solutions instead of excuses there would be a way forward!
July 17th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
As a Bradford resident, I am horrified at the stubborn, myopic view of Leeds City Council. I only discovered the Leeds Shakespeare Festival last year but attended 3 performances (Henry V twice) and was really looking forward to the productions this year. Unfortunately, we don’t have an Abbey in Bradford, where an alternative festival could be held, but we have Bolling Hall which has a fascinating history of over 500 years. I don’t know if there would be enough room there and what the attitude of the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council would be, but certainly they would be hard-pressed to be any worse than their ‘big city’ neighbour! Best wishes to Robert and the company for the rest of the 2008 season and let’s hope that this area has a great Shakespeare festival, staged by BSC, in 2009.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I am so sorry to read that you will not be coming to Leeds this year - I was on the site to book! We only discovered you 2 years ago and our boys (now aged 13 and 11) have loved the performances we came to. The older boy does not alway enjoy trips to the theatre so your company has been a wonderful introduction to Shakespeare.
We hope we will be able to come and see the company somewhere near by in 2009
July 20th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
EMAIL SENT ON BEHALF OF CLLR JOHN PROCTER (EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER FOR LEISURE, LEEDS CITY COUNCIL)
Thank you for your email enquiring about the Kirkstall Shakespeare Festival this summer.
I held a very constructive meeting with Robert Williamson from the British Shakespeare Company and what became clear was even if the city council had waived the modest charges/re-charges to the company the production was simply not financially viable.
I offered to look at the city council commissioning the British Shakespare Company to produce a production with the city staging the event. Regrettably the sum of money required from the city would be approaching a six-figure sum which simply is not available.
The Shakespeare Festival has had a long run in Leeds and I know they have found it harder and harder each year to break even. Unfortunately, asking the Council to provide the event infrastructure has not made the costs work any better.
It is therefore with regret that we are not able to commission the Shakespeare Festival and we will instead provide an alternative range of other activities for local people this summer.
Please be assured that as a council we will be holding further talks with the British Shakespeare Company to discuss the possibility of future events.
Kind Regards
JOHN
Councillor John Procter,
Executive Member for Leisure
Conservative Group Whip
Wetherby Ward
4th Floor East,
Civic Hall
0113 22 43863
July 21st, 2008 at 7:27 am
Hi Robert, Hi ‘rest of the company’. I remember with great pleasure your 2 productions last year (I came to Henry V twice as my son didn’t come the first time and I went home and told him he must!!). I have only just looked on the internet to find out about the 2008 productions. Not living in Leeds unfortunately, I had not heard about the ‘battle’ with Leeds City Council - if I had then I would certainly have added my voice. I have emailed to ask if volunteers are still needed for Leeds and hope to become a ‘friend’ asap (finances permitting). Please let me know if there is anything I can do to support a) the company, b) the Leeds event.
Very best wishes, Diana
P.S. Have you thought of approaching Patrick Stewart - he’s a Yorkshire lad; he loves Shakespeare; he may have a bit of spare cash!!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:04 am
Leeds City Council have done a disservice to its council taxpayers in failing to find a way of enabling this excellent annual event to continue. The email quoted above suggests that, instead of trying to overcome difficulties, LCC have set out to look for problems - as officials do when they want to find a reason not to do something. Citing “health and safety” is usually the refuge of those who don’t want something to happen but can’t find a compelling reason. Maybe, as others have suggested, you should look for another venue in West Yorkshire.
July 24th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I’m so disappointed that you are not appearing at Leeds this year. I have been every year to Kirkstall since you started and this year a friend who is coming over from the States (saw you in 2001)is equally disappointed. I shall certainly be emailing John Procter. Kirkstall is such a great venue, rain or shine, and the quality of your productions are consistently high. Liverpool may be European City of Culture this year but on the basis of this, Leeds will never be. Please come back in 2009.
July 25th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I can only describe the actions of the Council as obtuse. Kirkstall Abbey was donated by Colonel John North to the people of Leeds, much as your performances were a gift to us all. Congratulations must go to the Council for snuffing out the one light of culture in this city.
July 26th, 2008 at 7:19 am
Shame on Leeds City Council officials for failing to realise the huge cultural value of the Shakespeare festival. Mr Procter and co should issue an apology for knocking back the event and they should make a promise to us to rectify matters for next year. What on earth do they do with all the revenue they collect? I wholeheartedly resent paying council tax to this sham of a council when they make colossally stupid decisions like this!
July 28th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I am very disappointed that there is to be no “Shakespeare at Kirkstall” this summer. I have enjoyed your productions over many years, and feel that they are an excellent introduction to Shakespeare.I hope you are able to return in 2009, but feel that you may not have any success getting any funding out of Leeds City Council. Maybe it’s time to move elsewhere in West or North Yorkshire, though Kirkstall is a delightful venue and easily accessible by public transport
July 29th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Just logged on to get my tickets for this year’s Shakespeare at Kirkstall Abbey and cannot believe what I have just read! My friends and I have been coming for a few years now and we always look forward to seeing your excellent performances. Shame on Leeds City Council for being so short sighted. Has Mr Procter ever attended these events? I do hope you can find an alternative venue for next year - East Riddlesden Hall in Riddlesden could be a suitable venue, although there are no castle ruins but there are outside gardens which might adapt. Also Skipton Castle might be worth looking into. I do hope we see you in Yorkshire in 2009.
August 4th, 2008 at 8:01 am
It so sad that this event cannot be run this year. The council can find funding for many other events why not something as worthwhile as this. This is Shakespeare for goodness the very heart of Englishness. What on earth are the council thinking of. Ran Party in the Park and Opera for free no problem didn’t they!!!!
August 5th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Extremely disappointed to hear that you will not be in Leeds this year. Have read the correspondence from Leeds City Council and your comments. Am ashamed to be a Leeds Council Tax payer when they remove this wonderful event under the guise of spurious Health & Safety arguments. Really hope you are with us again next year.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:31 am
I cannot believe that there is any doubt about the continuation of the outdoor Shakespeare at Kirkstall Abbey. I attend with friends and family each year and was just looking to find the dates for this year so that I could leave my diary free.This must become an annual festival in the same way as eg Opera in the Park.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I sincerely hope that the powers that be in Leeds see sense and approve the continuance of productions by the BSC at Kirkstall Abbey. I have attended, usually on my birthday, with friends for the last 3 years and have marvelled at the performances despite brilliant sunshine, torrential rain and low flying aircraft. I have introduced my daughter, now 12, to the joys of seeing Shakespeare performed live and outside and we will both be extremely disappointed if an event is not held this year. I agree with MS Agar that this should, without doubt, become an annual event for Leeds.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I was really disappointed to learn that the BSC was unable to come to Leeds this year and I wrote to John Procter at LCC, the Yorkshire Post and Evening Post. I was very pleased to see that that the Evening Post did an article about the problem last night, and also printed my letter in a prominent position.
was really disappointed to learn that the BSC was unable to come to Leeds this year and I wrote to John Procter at LCC, the Yorkshire Post and Evening Post. I was very pleased to see that that the Evening Post did an article about the problem last night, and also printed my letter in a prominent position.
It’s great to hear that Robert is meeting with John Procter in September. I do hope that LCC will come up with some financial support. Lets hope that the company will be at Kirkstall Abbey again annually from 2009.
I would be very pleased to help with front of house duties if volunteers are needed.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
My family and I have immensely enjoyed your performances at Kirkstall Abbey for the last few years. The first of these was a production of Midsummer Night’s Dream, when it rained in torrents just as you opened. I hear that you have funding issues and I would urge Leeds MBC to find a way to solve the issues because a trip to see one of your productions has become literally the biggest highlight in the social life of Leeds.
I wish you well and hope that you can visit Kirkstall Abbey – for many years to come.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:42 am
I am heart broken not to be going to the festival in Leeds this year for the first time in about 10 years. It has been a highlight of my and many friends year. Something really British in wonderful surroundings in Yorkshire. Wonderful tourist attraction to say nothing of pleasing local people and proving we too in the north enjoy cultural activity. There is nothing else quite like this around and we should be very glad of it and do everything to keep it and encourage more of the same type of thing. There is never any touble or problems at this function I can not wait for it to return.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I discovered Shakespeare in the Park back in 2003 and have been there every year since with my Mum (who wouldn’t miss it and organises her trip from Ireland to coincide). I have just discovered what has happened and am disgusted with Leeds City Council. I agree that the amount of money pumped into party in the park and other such events I am sure did not even compare to what BSC were asking for. In such times where the government are alledgedly encouraging culture why do the fail to provide support for one of the most enjoyable performances of culture? I hope that LCC recognise the huge mistake they have made and that you will be back in 2009 and for many years to come.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
This is very sad indeed. I’ve been to at least one of the two performances every year for the past ten years and every one has been outstanding.
Maybe Kirkstall Abbey just doesn’t have enough car parking space for the sort of Leeds City Council revenue-raising parking charges that help fund pseudo-cultural events like Opera in the Park and Party in the Park at Temple Newsam.
This is one of the most important and enchanting events in the Leeds calendar and its a disgrace that Leeds City Council isn’t fighting for it to happen this year.
If you want to chat to me about sponsorship next year Robert, I’ll see if ourselves and a couple of other local businesses might give you a little backing.