| Up to 95 publicly-funded theatres across England are to offer free tickets to young adults as part of a £2.5m government-funded scheme. | Up to 95 publicly-funded theatres across England are to offer free tickets to young adults as part of a £2.5m government-funded scheme. |
| From next year until 2011, the theatres will offer free tickets - at least one day each week - to 18 to 26-year-olds on a first-come, first-served basis. | From next year until 2011, the theatres will offer free tickets - at least one day each week - to 18 to 26-year-olds on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| Theatres including London's National Theatre and the Birmingham Rep will be eligible to apply for the scheme. | Theatres including London's National Theatre and the Birmingham Rep will be eligible to apply for the scheme. |
| Officials said they were committed to increasing arts access for everyone. | Officials said they were committed to increasing arts access for everyone. |
| The scheme follows recommendations made in a recent government review about engaging young people. | The scheme follows recommendations made in a recent government review about engaging young people. |
| The Supporting Excellence in the Arts report, by former Edinburgh International Festival director Sir Brian McMaster, recommended a "free week" to engage young audiences by opening up publicly-funded arts organisations. | The Supporting Excellence in the Arts report, by former Edinburgh International Festival director Sir Brian McMaster, recommended a "free week" to engage young audiences by opening up publicly-funded arts organisations. |
| Arts and culture have the ability to enhance and change people's lives. Government is committed to increasing access to the arts for everyone DCMS spokeswoman | Arts and culture have the ability to enhance and change people's lives. Government is committed to increasing access to the arts for everyone DCMS spokeswoman |
| The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said that, after consulting with venues, the idea had been translated into "a long-term and sustainable opportunity to engage young people and build a new audience over a period of time". | The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said that, after consulting with venues, the idea had been translated into "a long-term and sustainable opportunity to engage young people and build a new audience over a period of time". |
| A spokeswoman said: "Arts and culture have the ability to enhance and change people's lives. | A spokeswoman said: "Arts and culture have the ability to enhance and change people's lives. |
| "Government is committed to increasing access to the arts for everyone. | "Government is committed to increasing access to the arts for everyone. |
| "Free theatre follows on from free access to museums and, more recently, free swimming." | "Free theatre follows on from free access to museums and, more recently, free swimming." |
| Back in July, Doctor Who star Catherine Tate warned that costly tickets made theatre "elitist". | Back in July, Doctor Who star Catherine Tate warned that costly tickets made theatre "elitist". |
| "If you want more people to come to the theatre, don't put the prices at £50," she told the BBC ahead her West End spell in Under The Blue Sky at the Duke of York's Theatre, London. | "If you want more people to come to the theatre, don't put the prices at £50," she told the BBC ahead her West End spell in Under The Blue Sky at the Duke of York's Theatre, London. |
| The actress said she would "happily" take a pay cut if it meant more people could afford to see her on stage. | The actress said she would "happily" take a pay cut if it meant more people could afford to see her on stage. |
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| Will free tickets encourage you to go to the theatre? Do you think theatres could tailor productions towards younger audiences? Do you work for a theatre company? |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
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