TWO theatre staff have been disciplined after thousands of pounds disappeared from its takings.

The police were informed and two junior finance staff reprimanded after £11,115 in cash went “missing” from the Theatre Royal, in Newcastle, earlier this year.

Theatre bosses also considered disciplinary action against chief executive Philip Bernays and finance director Pamela Dowds for not notifying them of the disappearance earlier, confidential papers seen by The Northern Echo reveal.

Although such action was rejected, the theatre’s finance committee ordered its chairman to “sternly speak” to both, the documents show.

Mr Bernays told the Echo this action was later rephrased and declined to apologise for his actions, saying: “I certainly don’t think myself or Ms Dowds handled it wrongly.”

The missing cash came from merchandise and programme sales over several weeks earlier this year. Theatre bosses declined to disclose precise dates.

It disappeared after being received by the theatre and before being banked by Newcastle City Council, which owns the building.

Theatre officials informed Northumbria Police and called in independent auditors to investigate.

Although no proof of theft has been found, the cause of the disappearance has not yet been ascertained and remained “unresolved”, a spokeswoman said. Investigations are continuing.

However, two junior members of the theatre’s finance team have been disciplined for “complacency in following procedures”.

Following a review, the theatre has begun banking its own takings and could install CCTV cameras in its check office.

Mr Bernays said: “We take this loss very seriously indeed as it is a significant sum, especially in the current climate where every penny counts.

“Since the loss incurred, we have comprehensively reviewed all our own security measures and systems and also changed our banking procedure.

“We are confident that something like this will not happen again.”

Explaining his approach, Mr Bernays added: “We carried out our own internal investigation before we notified the board.

“They felt we should have notified them earlier. We were told in future if a similar situation arose, they wanted to know immediately and not after our internal investigation.”

A Newcastle City Council spokesman said it had carried out its own investigation and found no evidence the cash was misappropriated at the council.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said the force had been informed but had told the Theatre Royal that it was a civil, not a police, matter.

The leaked documents also reveal the theatre made a £32,000 compensation payment described as “The Live”

compensation payment. Mr Bernays refused to give any details of the payout.

Neither loss is expected to affect the theatre’s operations.

The Theatre Royal attracts 300,000 visitors a year and has an annual turnover of £8m.

A grade I-listed building in Grey Street dating back to 1837, it reopened in September following a £4.75m renovation project.