THEATRE bosses hope to meet Richmond Town Council in the new year to iron out a "misunderstanding" over funding.

The town's Georgian Theatre Royal was anticipating a total of £3,500 from the authority in the current financial year and, after it received just £1,200, requested the balance.

But the town council says it agreed at the beginning of the year to cut its grant aid to the theatre to £1,200 this time round.

Coun Stuart Parsons told councillors on Monday he had informed theatre trustees of the decision at a meeting in the spring.

The move followed a feeling that, following its major restoration, the theatre was moving away from being a community venue to a more professional role.

Coun Russell Lord, the mayor, said the trustees must remember that the theatre was owned by the town council, which offered it at a reduced rate.

Speaking after the meeting, Vaughn Curtis, theatre manager, said Coun Parsons had told the board meeting that the town council grant was only being withheld for the time being.

"At no point since then has any formal written notification been received from the town council and, as we had heard no more, we assumed the £1,200 was just the first payment and we wrote to request the rest," he said.

"There has obviously been a misunderstanding which needs to be resolved between the theatre and the town council and we will contact them."

It is hoped a meeting can be set up in the new year to discuss the issue.

* See town council report, page 7.