Lesley Manville has advocated for increased funding for theaters across the UK, highlighting her concern that regional theaters are underfunded. She expressed these sentiments during the Olivier awards in London, where she was awarded the best actress for her performance as Jocasta in Oedipus at Wyndham’s theater. Manville, who started her career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and has performed at Bristol Old Vic, emphasized the significance of properly funding repertory theaters. She noted the issue of a north-south divide in theater funding, advocating for more financial support for regional theaters. Manville also praised Robert Icke’s adaptation and direction of Sophocles’ Oedipus, which was named the best revival at the awards. She expressed her concern over young actors not being encouraged to perform in various plays and highlighted the unique learning experiences and personal challenges that theater provides, which cannot be replicated in screen work. The conversation around theater funding comes against the backdrop of Theatres Trust’s report of theaters at risk and the Campaign for the Arts alliance’s finding of a significant cut in local government spending on arts and culture since 2009-10. The government has recently announced a £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund aimed at investing in arts venues, with a focus on building works and infrastructure upgrades.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/apr/06/lesley-manville-calls-for-better-funding-for-uk-regional-theatre