Shrewsbury’s MP is calling for reduced rates at the council-run Theatre Severn so that students are not priced out of the venue.

Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, said he hoped that Shropshire Council would agree to rent rehearsal space out to students of Shrewsbury Sixth Form College so that they could make good use of the facilities to help them along with their studies.

Mr Kawczynski said: “I’m very keen for sixth form staff to work closely with the council over their development.

“With the Learning and Skills Council being wound up a lot of responsibility is being handed to the local authority.

“Students at the college can study music, dance and dramatics but they can’t afford to hire the rooms in the Theatre Severn.

“I’ve asked the council to undertake an evaluation of the utilisation of facilities to see if their is a possibility in any way to put college students in at a low rate so they can utilise resources so classes can use them. It’s vital for their education.”

Mr Kawczynski said he was present at a meeting last Friday between college bosses and council staff aimed at encouraging the two groups to work more closely together.

Martin Ward, headteacher of the college, said: “Obviously the theatre has to charge for use of its facilities. We do rent the theatre for some of our shows but significant use is too costly for us.

“We want to meet with the new manager to see if we can come to an agreement to allow some access to the theatre, when they’re not busy, at a low rate.

“We want to see whether there can be a special rate for fairly intensive use.”

Peter Nicholson, theatre services manager, said: “We are meeting with Shrewsbury Sixth Form College later this week to discuss their possible future use of the facilities. No decisions have yet been taken but it is important that the theatre is used as widely as possible by the local community.”

By Emma Kasprzak