"They deliver world class music and dance in partnership with the performers on the stage. It would be no different to replacing the dancers with a video screen.”
He added: “The work Northern Ballet does across the UK brings immense joy and pleasure to thousands every year, from those experiencing the artform for the first time, to those that know and love the company well. "We acknowledge that Northern Ballet are in emergency discussions with Arts Council England today, and we urge them to collectively find a solution to the funding shortfall. It is vital for all in society to have access to this incredible artform, with the dedicated live music as an integral part of the experience.”
In response to the concerns, a spokesperson for ACE said: “We highly value Northern Ballet and that’s why in November we increased their grant for the next three years so that they can continue to bring great work to audiences across the North and more widely.