PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY (9 December 1997)

That this House recognises that the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company has been the custodian of a unique part of Britain's musical heritage in performing Gilbert and Sullivan operettas for more than 120 years; notes that the Company, which tours to 36 towns and cities throughout Britain, faces imminent closure; further notes that the D'Oyly Carte bring Gilbert and Sullivan to a non-elitist audience across the whole of Britain in the price range of ú8 to ú22 per seat, that it is by far the largest and most prolific touring company in the United Kingdom which is not in receipt of any regular funding by the Arts council and that more than 80 per cent of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company's income has been raised through the box office and the private sector; and calls on the Government and the Arts Council to recognise the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company as worthy of a place on the list of organisations given client status for regular funding by the Arts Council.

Sponsored by:
Austin Mitchell (Labour)