Theatre bosses have been handed a £100,000 cash lifeline by Scarborough council for the venue to continue operating in 2010 while the Spa Grand Hall is closed for refurbishment, including a bigger stage.

But no decision has been made on financial arrangements for the Futurist for 2011.

The news follows the announcement of a £6 million renovation of Scarborough Spa Complex, including the Grand Hall, which will close the venue for 11 months.

Futurist operator Barrie Stead said he was delighted its immediate future had been aided.

He said: "The Futurist is the jewel in Scarborough's crown and we are very pleased with the council's help because without it we would have had to close on December 31, that is how serious it was.

"We are coming up to seven years running the venue now and it is nothing like any other theatre in the country. We have brought some great shows and are open the full year which is a remarkable achievement because of the expense.

"It would have been very sad to hand the keys back and we now hope to get a programme for next year and give the people of Scarborough the kind of theatre they deserve."

Mr Stead, who runs the venue with his wife and business partner Brenda, said the theatre's constant financial worries had forced them to miss out on acts in the past.

"There have been situations where companies have enquired about coming to Scarborough but they plan their shows two or three years in advance which we cannot do, so they take them elsewhere.

"However we do still manage to attract big names such as Rob Brydon and Jack Dee and these really help the economy with a lot coming from out of town and spend money in Scarborough."

Read the full story in Wednesday's Scarborough Evening News

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