Free ticket scheme opens

Arts Council England’s (ACE) scheme to make 618,000 free theatre tickets available to people aged under 26 has opened with a series of events being staged by participating theatres during half-term week. The launch was endorsed by stars of stage and TV including Rupert Penry-Jones, Sheridan Smith and Matt Di Angelo. More than 200 venues are participating in the scheme, under the umbrella title ‘A Night Less Ordinary’. The scheme, which was announced in November 2008 (AP179), is supported with £2.5m from the DCMS and aims to reach new audiences and develop a new generation of arts attenders. ACE has indicated that, depending on the outcome of this pilot, “the initiative could be extended to other artforms”.
w: http://www.anightlessordinary.org.uk