Free Theatre Tickets For Young People and Bankers.
Culture secretary, Andy Burnham, made a surprise announcement earlier this week. The government plans to give away free theatre tickets to people under the age of 26. The new scheme begins in February 2009.
Burnham explained how "Happy Mondays" would make theatres eligible for government funding in order to offer free seats on Monday nights for young people. Burnham passionately explained how the free tickets would impact the attitudes of young people towards the performing arts, saying; "Culture has the power to change lives, but some people feel it is not for them. To change that, people aged 26 and under will be able to book tickets to the theatre for free on the quieter nights of the week. A million free tickets to the major subsidised theatres in every part of England from next February - filling them with new audiences, life and laughter."
Burnham's announcement came shortly after theatre mogul, Andrew Lloyd Webber, began offering free tickets to The Sound of Music and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Lloyd Webber's free ticket offer is only open to bankers who have lost their jobs in the 'credit crunch'. Former bank employees can claim a free pair of tickets by simply presenting a P45 issued after 1st September 2008 at either show's official box office.
Lloyd Webber said he hoped his feel-good shows would offer some comfort to those made unemployed by the economic slowdown "albeit for a couple of hours". The free tickets are available between Monday and Thursday and are subject to availability. This generous offer made by Lloyd Webber is currently valid until 15th October 2008.
Published by: Jonathan Dudley
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