Dame Judi Dench has hit out at the council’s plans to cut funding for the arts in Suffolk, calling the decision “heart-breaking”. 

It was announced this week that Suffolk County Council would be cutting all investment in the arts and culture sector from April 2025.

The council has said it has had to make cuts to balance its books, intending to save about £65million in total over the next two years, while council tax will rise by 5% in the spring.

Suffolk County Council said it will be spending an extra £74m on vulnerable adults and children over the next two years and unions have said hundreds of staff face losing their jobs.

But the decision to cut £500,000 arts and culture funding has been met with dismay from the sector.

Ipswich Star: Bury St Edmunds' Theatre RoyalBury St Edmunds' Theatre Royal (Image: Phil Morley)

For the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds, the cuts mean a loss of £100,000 in funding – with the venue now having little more than 12 months to prepare.  

Star of screen and stage Dame Judi, a life patron of the Theatre Royal, has spoken out against the council’s decision.  

The Shakespeare and James Bond star, 89, said: “I am deeply shocked to hear of the proposed cut to its funding by Suffolk County Council.

“Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds plays a vital role in the lives of so many, especially those most vulnerable. The removal of this support is heart-breaking, regional theatre is the foundation of British theatre and its place in our lives must be protected.” 

Earlier this week, a group of Suffolk arts organisations released a joint statement calling on the county council to reverse its decision – arguing it would make an "extremely modest difference to the council’s overall finances".

Speaking as the cuts were announced, deputy council leader Richard Rout said: "This is the most challenging budget-setting process the council has faced for many years.

"But once again, we are putting adult and children’s care at the heart of our plans.

"However, in order to ensure appropriate levels of funding for these key services, and those most in need in Suffolk, we must make difficult decisions about all the other services we deliver, and how we deliver them."