Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

Stay in Scarborough

Comedian Dodd backs calls for a Futurist facelift

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 26 August 2009
By Staff Copy
LEGENDARY entertainer Ken Dodd is backing calls to give the Futurist Theatre a revamp.
The comic is heading back to Scarborough to perform in front of "the best fans in the world", amid concerns over the future of the seafront venue.

Evening News calls a new theatre with modern facilities to stand in its place have received widespread backing, with Dodd, known to his legions of fans as Doddy, joining those ranks.

He said: "It would be marvellous if it could be re-developed.

"It is very expensive to run a theatre and they need to become more multi-purpose, but it would be great to see it given a loving facelift."

Having made the people of the town smile for more than 50 years, the comedian returns to the Futurist Theatre on Saturday with his variety show, promising to keep the laughs coming for his favourite crowd.

He said: "I have some great memories of Scarborough. As a child I used to come on holiday here with the family and I always look forward to coming to Scarborough and meeting the people.

"As an entertainer I first performed in Scarborough in 1954 and the audiences in Yorkshire are the best in the world for their northern grittiness combined with their sense of fun.

"The real joy is no two shows are the same because of the permeation of different personalities in the audience who get involved and make your act.

Despite his constantly changing material, in response to the ever-shifting attitudes of his crowd, the 82-year old promised fans could still expect examples of his typical repertoire.

He said: "People come to my shows to be entertained and escape the cares and worries of life.

"The traditional jokes are still there and being by the seaside, there will be usual stories about sandcastles and candy floss among others.

"But the times and people's attitudes change and the humour from when I first started in 1954, is totally different to now.

"There was more art to comedy years ago and comics were masters of their craft.

"Today there are precious few places to learn that craft, and far too much emphasis is placed on vulgar material and sadly swearing is passed off as comedy."

He also backed plans to transform the Futurist theatre, as revealed in the Evening News, which could include a hotel and cinema screens.

Ken Dodd's Happiness Show is at the Futurist on Saturday at 7pm.

* Turn to page 17 for more entertainments news

Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 26 August 2009 9:11 AM
  • Source: Scarborough Evening News
  • Location: Scarborough
 
Prev
1
Next
1

English like wot she is meant to be spoke,

26/08/2009 09:58:46
This increasingly coordinated campaign to pressure the Council into funding a refurbishment for the Futurist is getting tedious.

We all know it would be a good idea. We all know the Council can't afford it.

Maybe if some of the people who have made money out of the place in the past (and indeed the present) could dip their hands into to their own pockets with token contributions, the idea would seem a bit less unpalatable to Council Tax payers like myself.

2

Amaroo,

Scarborough 26/08/2009 10:38:44
Maybe if the SBC funding to the SJT was redirected to the Futurist it might help. Why should a 'private' theatre be funded to more than a £ million a year of which in excess of £250,000 is from SBC.

I believe that as highlighted in the SEN previous that SBC have decided what the future of the theatre will be. It is simply part of the redevelopment of the whole complex back up to King Street with the Town Hall likley as not vacating out to the SBS building at Morrisons roundabout.

The council have no intention of saving the Futurist as a theatre. Sadly the Spa is and never will be able to replace it as a venue that would attract the big names. The Spa is okay for the small summer shows it puts on now.

If SBC had the desire the Futurist could be made great again though they would need to bring in outside investment to assist them to do so. Also to diversify from just a theatre by incorporating other facilities.

3

English like wot she is meant to be spoke,

26/08/2009 10:51:44
I rather suspect the whole thing is a ploy to divert attention away from the SJT. When (sorry, if) the Futurist closes, the SJT's position as the town's only serious theatre will be more secure. As we have all pointed out, the town simply cannot afford three white elephants for the luvvies, and I daresay the town's "discerning" elite (as the SEN has called them) would rather keep the SJT and of course the Spa, leaving the Futurist with its more low-brow entertainment to go to ruin.

So all these self-interested campaigners trying to pressure the Council into paying for a "revamp" at the Futurst, not only are their efforts doomed to failure but they are playing right into the hands of the "discerning" elite.

After all, the Council could easily revamp the Futurist if they ditched the SJT subsidy - but that's a debate we never seem to have, wonder why?
4

Amaroo,

Scarborough 26/08/2009 11:31:07
Re Post 3.

As you rightly say, 3 white elephants. The private luvvies SJT theatre of Sir Alan Acykbourne, the Spa which is Councillor Jeffels pet project and the Futurist which nobody of note will admit to holding allegience to.

The SBC subsidy for the SJT is well hidden in the files as are the perks that are given to Tony Peers for his Spa theatre summer shows. As far as I am aware the Spa shows have yet to show a return in profit.

Re the SJT. To attract a subsidy in excess of a million £ per annum would indicate to me that the place should be shut sooner rather than later.

Why should the Borough tax payer fund a specialised theatre for a select clientele` that will never ever even break even. It is possibly the biggest white elephant the Scarborough Borough council tax payer has ever helped to fund.
5

hometownboy,

26/08/2009 19:29:54
Good for Doddy! When is he going to be Sir Ken Dodd, its long over due?
Prev
1
Next

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.