by Gerry Warren

gwarren@thekmgroup.co.uk

@Gerry_Warren

It could be curtains for Canterbury's oldest amateur production company after Marlowe Theatre bosses said it would no longer be offered a slot for its shows.

Canterbury Operatic Society, founded in 1906, has been performing at the theatre since it opened in 1952. But its staging of Oklahoma next month could be its last.

Bosses say its shows are "not putting enough bums on seats" and it can no longer subsidise the company.

But society chairman Derry Martin fears that without a suitable alternative future venue, it could signal its demise.

"I had a meeting with the theatre director and it seems we are no longer in their long term booking plans," he said.

"They say we don't put enough bums on seats because our audiences have dropped to only about 40% capacity.

"I've been told there will be no slot for us in the theatre's calendar for next year. I'm really not sure what the future holds for the society now because there is simply no alternative venue which can adequately accommodate us.

"We did use the Gulbenkian while the Marlowe was closed for work on the new theatre but it didn't work for us and we lost money every year. We really only do one big production a year which is about six months in the making and needs a big space."

"For some of our supporters, it is the only chance they get to see a show in the main theatre because they can't afford the professional production ticket prices."

Mr Martin says the society has many members involved in backstage technical skills and links with hair and beauty students from East Kent College who use the shows as part of their course work.

The decision to axe the society from the theatre comes only a fortnight after it celebrated winning a top award from the National Operatic and Dramatic Organisation its performance of Mikado last year.

"It's hugely disappointing because we have such a long connection with the Marlowe dating back to when the theatre was in St Margaret's Street but that doesn't seem to count for much now," he said.

Mr Martin believes theatre's change of stewardship to a trust and the need to be more economically viable may have been a factor in the decision.

"Already the theatre reduced the amount of time we could have the theatre for rehearsals and our shows to just four days, because they wanted to book more one-nighters."

But with only 30% of seats so far sold for Oklahoma, the theatre bosses say it indicates the problem it faces.

Paula Gillespie, Acting Theatre Director, says in recent years, COS's audience numbers have consistently fallen.

"We've had several conversations with the society over some time about this. We've discussed the fact that the society's current model of a large cast, orchestra, investment in sets and costumes and rental of a large-scale theatre, albeit at a subsidised rental, is not sustainable for either of us," she said.

"We've talked about ways in which it might re-invent its model so that it can develop and grow in the future. This includes presenting on a smaller scale with a smaller orchestra in a different scale of theatre.

"It is now a reality that all cultural organisations, The Marlowe included, must continually adapt and change if they are to be properly resilient and survive."

She added: "We remain supportive of the society and are keen to work with it where we can. We are talking to COS about members taking part in Return Of The Unknown, our major production to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War at Dover Marine Station in November."