Sir Roger Moore signs petition in the hopes of saving local UK theatre

The campaign to save the Exeter Northcott theatre from closure dominated the pages of the Echo during the first few weeks of this year.

Weeks of extensive campaigning paid off when the Arts Council decided not to withdraw essential funding — but only if urgent improvements were made to the theatre's programme and community work - reports This is Exeter.

The Arts Council's South West boss Nick Capaldi admitted he had been surprised by the strong reaction to his December 2007 announcement of a possible funding cut, just after the Northcott reopened following a £2.1m refit.

Almost 30,000 people signed petitions condemning the decision and it was criticised by a host of the country's best actors including Sir Roger Moore and Sir Ian McKellen.

Mr Capaldi also praised the Echo's coverage of the controversy, calling it one of the most impressive campaigns he has ever seen on an arts issue and admitted it had played a part in changing minds on the Art Council's South West board.

The Northcott had already been allocated £547,236 for 2008-09 and it will now be given the same amounts in 2009-10 and 2010-11 — but only if staff can demonstrate changes have been made. The funding is also subject to a review in 2009. Without Arts Council money, Northcott staff say they would have had to close the theatre.

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