AMATEUR productions could be a thing of the past at the borough’s biggest theatre as council bosses demand it saves £50,000 a year.

Redbridge Council wants more control over programming at the Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford to bring in more money and has said it wants fewer amateur shows.

It has also said that the theatre will be forced to close entirely if it is not breaking even by 2014.

The Woodford Operatic and Amateur Dramatic Society (WOADS) puts on two productions a year at the theatre.

Chairman John Evans said: “There seems to be a view of ‘make it up as we go along’.

“Politicians are not theatre managers and they don’t understand the way that the theatre works. You don’t have to be Einstein to work that out.”

Robert Jackson, the theatre’s manager, said: “These groups are the lifeblood of any local theatre. They are our bread and butter.

“The council’s suggestion is that we’re sitting around twiddling our thumbs. But there are days spent erecting sets, dress rehearsals, and technical rehearsals that can’t be done anywhere else.”

Councillor Sue Nolan, Cabinet Member for leisure said: “In the current climate, where all services have to make difficult cuts, there is a need to make the theatre more financially sustainable.

“The Council would still provide a subsidy to the theatre and we believe that by varying its programming and developing new audiences, the theatre can increase its revenue to make up for the reduction in subsidy.

“From recent successful productions such as Kathali and a range of Arts Week shows, including a youth show, South Asian Classical Dance and Children’s Theatre, there is reason to believe that more cutting edge productions would result in more income generation.

“We believe the Kenneth More Theatre should cater for a wide range of audiences through bringing in touring companies, community-based groups and amateur dramatics and we are willing to provide any support that the Kenneth More Theatre want to help it develop these new audiences.”