There is still time to support a petition asking a council to help a struggling theatre with a cash lifeline.

That's according to Amber Bytheway who is asking Deal Town Council to 'make the right decision' over the Astor Theatre's request for emergency funding.

The venue, in Stanhope Road, Deal, has no income where it has been forced to cancel its summer and autumn programme because of lockdown and ongoing viability concerns where social distancing will inevitably reduce audience volumes.

The Astor's creative director James Tillitt has not applied for the council's £2,000 Emergency Grant Aid funding which is readily available. His reason is because the venue needs more cash.

According to him, accepting that cash would preclude the business from applying for more grants and the Astor could miss out.

Instead he has asked the council to consider giving money from its reserves which it has been able to do before to the tune of almost £40,000 for various projects including the major renovation in 2009 and for the subsequent apprenticeship and community radio ventures.

But money from the reserves is not readily available without the full council discussing it first.

Mr Tillitt has had to wait until the full council meeting on Tuesday, July 28 and had previous criticised the perceived 'lack of urgency'.

This week, in his newsletter, he described any cash the council can give as 'a lifeline'.

The petition, now with more than 1,800 signatures, will be handed to Deal Town Council by Ms Bytheway by the end of this week.

To add your support, click here.

A crowd funding campaign has collected more than £14,000 for the theatre's survival. You can donate by clicking here:

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