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Comic backs Watermans battle

Posted by Lucy Proctor on May 21, 08 11:03 AM in Clubs/societies

Award-winning comic Shazia Mirza this week joined the campaign to save Watermans - offering to perform in the car park of the centre if the funding crisis continues.

Speaking at the venue, where she is honing her act ahead of this summer's Edinburgh Festival, she described it as a vital breeding ground for new comedians.

"There's quite a varied crowd, which is willing to give new things a go, and you're always guaranteed an audience," she said.

Bosses at the Brentford centre are waiting anxiously to hear whether their battle to restore vital funding will reach the courts.

Managers expect to learn within days if they have been granted a judicial review of the Arts Council's decision to slash nearly £500,000 from its budget.

Marketing director Leigh Stops said even talks about 'transitional' funding from the Arts Council have reached a dead end since it was threatened with legal action.

"The Arts Council says it wants us to stay open but it's doing nothing to help ensure that doesn't happen," he said.

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