Changes to Stafford Castle Shakespeare show layout spark concerns

The latest production, The Merchant of Venice, finished earlier this month and the grounds of Stafford Castle were also used to host events including a production of HMS Pinafore.

But while the actors and staff were praised for their efforts changes to the site layout, including placing toilets closer to the performance area and differences in the seating layout, were given the thumbs down by some members of a Stafford Borough Council scrutiny committee.

Freedom Leisure has taken on the running of Stafford Festival Shakespeare from the borough council as part of its management of leisure and cultural services.

Councillor Aidan Godfrey said: “I would like the committee to look into the apparent cost-cutting measures taken at this year’s production at Stafford Castle. Although the play itself was excellent the facilities were much reduced when compared to all previous productions.

“The event is the highlight of our cultural year. At last year’s special scrutiny presentation by Freedom Leisure their senior management reassured us there would be no reduction in the quality of the occasion – this appears not to be the case.

“People have been coming up to me asking what has happened? Why is there less seating? I was sat at one end of a very long stand and my view was restricted, as was everybody else’s.

“On the first night there was a distinct lack of loos. There were only two toilet blocks; in previous years there were a lot of Tardis-type toilets. This year there were queues and queues of people trying to go to the loo.

“Bearing in mind people are serving refreshments here you think there would be somewhere you could go to relieve yourself of those refreshments.

"The day after more Tardis type toilets appeared – they appeared close up to the stand where people are sitting. It was very unsatisfactory.”

Councillor Ralph Cooke, chair of the resources scrutiny committee, attended the performance of HMS Pinafore at the castle.

He said: “By then there were a few more loos, but again in a very public thoroughfare – no privacy at all. We used to tuck them away so people could be private when they went to the lavatory – this year they were in full view of everyone.

“Where I was sitting there was a pillar straight in front of me – I can fully understand what Councillor Godfrey said about sight lines if you were at the end.”

But Councillor Carolyn Trowbridge, cabinet member for leisure, said there had been just one complaint made in relation to this year’s Stafford Festival Shakespeare – and many compliments. She also praised improvements to the seating provision for disabled visitors.

“Freedom Leisure have a job to do and they are trying different things out. They did write back to Aidan [Godfrey] as to the toilets on the first night and they were sorted on the following day," she added.

“I made the same comments as you both that the toilets were in the wrong place – I have made that clear to Freedom Leisure and that won’t happen again. They know they have got to be moved.

“I have also asked for sides to be put on the edges (of the stands). A neighbour said they felt a cold wind coming across because there were no sides and that is being dealt with next year.

“You have called it compact, they have called it intimate. We have had lots of positive comments.

“One said ‘I have been for at least 20 years and I have to say this production is one of the best – the new seat layout was fabulous’.

"The second one said the man was partially deaf and never hears more than 50 per cent of the show – and how excellent the sound was.

"With the new layout he heard 80 per cent clearly.”