Theatre sacking ‘a disgrace’ says councillor

As reported in yesterday’s Yorkshire Post, Peter Sandeman, 60, manager of the City Varieties in Leeds, has lost his job in a management shake-up.

Mr Sandeman said he was “extremely disappointed” to lose his job after overseeing a £9.9m refurbishment of the music hall.

Now the former chairman of the Grand Theatre Board, Councillor Bernard Atha, said the “sacking” was an injustice.

“To reward him for many years outstanding service by getting rid of him is, to me, a disgrace. As a Labour councillor I hate to see injustice and have to speak out when it appears.”

A spokeswoman for the company that runs the Varieties and Leeds Grand said the restructure meant that only one manager was needed “The changes ... are part of a comprehensive restructure process to ensure closer working between our venues. This restructure is taking place across the organisation which is going through a period of significant change in the way it operates.”

She said “rising costs” “played no part in this decision”.