WORRIED city councillors have called for Worcester's Swan Theatre to revise its business plan in a bid to get the theatre afloat.

During a review of the theatre at a Community Services Policy and Review Committee meeting, councillors discussed what needed to be done to help the cash-strapped venue break even.

They suggested their concerns be put to theatre bosses at a meeting next month.

"Huntingdon Hall makes money and the Swan loses money," said Councillor Gary Kibblewhite.

"They've got to go back and revise their business plan and look at their targets.

"They only put on one performance a year that makes money.

"We should be looking to get the Swan afloat. We should make them realise that they should make a profit or break even."

After the meeting, Councillor Gareth Jones said the Swan had received £87,000 in the past year from Worcester City Council alone.

Arts strategy

"We have an arts strategy that covers various centres such as the library and the Commandery, but the Swan is first in that system," he said.

"When we give organisations money, they have to justify it's spent well and prove that they meet performance targets."

Deborah Rees, administrative director for the Swan, said many theatres struggled to survive.

She said although the theatre was given financial help from Worcestershire County Council, the city council and West Midlands Arts, it was vastly underfunded.

Ms Rees said West Midlands Arts was paying for a consultant to look at the Swan Theatre and make comparisons with other venues in terms of funding.

"Lots of money came to the arts over a year ago from the treasury, and if we'd been given even a small amount of that cash it would have really helped us," she said.

"Our Christmas show does make money to support some shows, but our other shows do good business as well."