BETTER deals for local theatregoers could be part of a new-look management structure for Malvern Theatres.

Ideas include offering last-minute tickets to Malvern Hills residents at half price shortly before a performance.

Malvern Hills District Council should take the opportunity of working with the local management structure to attract an "even better" deal, said Councillor Tom Wells.

He claimed the long-term future of the theatres could be under threat if a London company took over its management.

"Bringing in a commercial operator could threaten the quality and breadth of productions, change the profile of the theatre and damage its connections with community and amateur groups," he said.

The council is considering two bids to run the theatres, one from the Malvern Theatres Trust and the other from the London-based Ambassadors Theatre Group. A consultation paper is due to be published tomorrow and public meetings will be held to discuss the issue before a decision is made in late September.

"One can easily be seduced by the London company's bid, but I think the cost to the theatres, in the long run, is unacceptable," said Councillor Wells, who is the leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group.

Discussions

"For 18 months, as a leading councillor, I knew nothing of the discussions that were taking place behind the scenes with this company," he said.

"I am worried that we are being led by the nose to vote for either Ambassadors or the existing management under Nic Lloyd.

"There should be more consultation, with greater flexibility and room for manoeuvre."

Coun Wells said he had met with Theatres chief executive Nic Lloyd, English Symphony Orchestra artistic director William Boughton, Malvern Theatre Players chairman Chris Bassett and MADCAP chairman Robert Wilson, who shared concerns about introducing a commercial operator.

He said a £600,000 debt, resulting from an overspend on the £6m rebuilding and refurbishment programme in 1997, was undermining the Theatres' ability to trade with confidence.

"The district council, as the property owner, should pay the debt as a long-term loan and require the Theatres to pay the interest that we would have received if the money stayed in our bank account," said Coun Wells.

A system of offering discounted tickets to local residents from 4pm on the day of a performance would reward the council tax payers servicing the debt and continuing to pay a £200,000 annual subsidy to the Theatres, he said.