FOR the first time in more than 30 years, Aberystwyth Arts Centre will not produce their own summer season show.

The decision has been made following uncertainty over funding, so, instead of mounting their own production, as they have done for more than three decades, the venue has decided to buy in two touring productions instead.

At the end of July, James and the Giant Peach comes to Aberystwyth, with the musical Footloose coming for three weeks in August.

In recent years the Arts Centre has produced its own big budget musicals including Legally Blonde, Sister Act and Little Shop of Horrors, but Louise Amery from the Arts Centre said uncertainty over funding means they are unable to do so in 2016, and will buy in productions instead.

“We’re very pleased to be able to present not one but two fantastic shows for audiences this summer - the fabulous musical Footloose and a big family show James and the Giant Peach,” she said.

“The Arts Centre has produced a summer musical for over 30 years and we are enormously proud of the way the shows have grown in size and stature over the years.

“They’re a huge undertaking for us, and a significant amount of our annual budget and staff time are committed to them each year. This year we found ourselves in a particularly unique situation where the announcement of annual funding agreements from the Arts Council of Wales (following Welsh Government settlements) were not due until March."