Theatre calls for US-style tax relief

The Stage: Commercial producers and Arts Council England are lobbying the government to introduce US-style tax relief that would allow theatre investors to write off losses against income tax.The Treasury has just finished consulting on proposals aimed at extending tax benefits on investment by business angels for small and start-up businesses across all sectors. However, in its response, ACE has called on the government to launch a separate review looking specifically at tax breaks for all the creative industries – including theatre – claiming there is a need for “a detailed review of the evidence base on the different forms, levels and instruments in this sector.”