"KILLING THE THEATRE" TAX

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 71, 24 March 1934, Page 19

"KILLING THE THEATRE" TAX

Sir John Martin-Harvey and other distinguished actors and actresses have laid before. members of Parliament at the House of Commons the case for abolishing the entertainments tax on theatres." Sir John said the tax was "slowly stifling the art which we, love and practise," reports tho "Manchester.Guardian." •-'•■.

. The .deputation included Sir Gerald Dv Maurier,' Dame Sybil, Thorndike, Dame May Whitty, Miss Gladys Cooper, Miss Edith Evans, Miss Cathleen Nesbitt, Miss Gwen Ffrajigcon-Davies, Miss Heather Thatcher, Mr. Leslie Henson, and Sir Cedric Havdwicke.

"I cannot believe,"", said Sir John-Martin-Harvey, "that if members appreciated the fact that we have to give up 20 per, cent, of all moneys paid by the (public who buy seats at a theatre they would wonder that we are indignant about-it, especially when wo see the harm which this tax has brought on our calling. It is said that the public pay the tax. ;O.f course they do; but at a time when the public has to look to every penny which they pay in amusement they must pocket their preference for the theatre proper, which gives them the personal appeal and the S« m3 n.. .element, and ,„ content .themselves with the cheaper mechanical en-

tertainment, which they can have for half the price. ' ■ "What is the result? -Theatres are being closed in every direction. Railway traffic suffers, local cartage suffers, actors, stage-hands, electricians, musicians are thrown out of work Many have- to go 'on the dole,' ana the Government has to keep thorn. In other words, you are killing the living drama for a few thousand pounds." Dame Sybil Thorndike spoke of 12s 6d stalls as a great difficulty for theatregoers. The really intelligent public ought to be able to get' into the theatre for Bs. . "No really intelligent people have more than.that to spare." Sir Gerald Dv, Maurier said many 'managers suffered so heavily by the tax that "it is hardly worth while soin^ on," s s

Mrs. Tate, M.P., asked whether the legitimate stage was not suffering from mechanised and other forms of entertainment rather than from the actual tax itself. Mr. Walter Payne (chairman of the. West End . Theatre Managers) implied by citing cases in the Irish Free State, which has abolished the tax on. entertainment provided by acting on the stage. He said that the difference- of not .having the tax gave the touring company a profit. Sir. William. Davison, the chairman said members would consider the ease carefully. . °