Sir – In response to the letter What is fee for? (May 23) Oxford Playhouse is a charity. Over the past two years, the county council, city council and Arts Council England have made substantial cuts in funding to arts organisations.
Introducing a booking fee is part of the way we are trying to plug the gap. The £1 booking fee is retained by the theatre for charitable purposes, whereas the majority of the ticket price goes to the producer of the show, not the Playhouse.
To raise the equivalent £1 through ticket income, prices would have to rise by approximately £3 per ticket, which is clearly much worse for bookers.
There are also lots of exemptions to the booking fee, including family shows, cheap tickets and group bookings.
The booking fee and all of our earned income is vital for securing the Playhouse’s future, and enabling us to continue to bring world-class theatre to Oxford.
Michelle Dickson, Director, Oxford Playhouse
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