By David LennardA SUMMER theatre season has been dealt a crippling blow less than a week after opening with the cancellation of all the fringe events.

By David Lennard

A SUMMER theatre season has been dealt a crippling blow less than a week after opening with the cancellation of all the fringe events.

Jill Freud and Company got the season off to a cracking start last week with the opening production of the classic comedy, Hobson's Choice, at Edmund's Hall in Southwold.

In welcoming the first-night audience, Lady Freud said despite constant rumours, the popular fringe events held at the Garden Gallery of Sutherland House, Southwold, would take place as usual.

But despite the best efforts of the theatre company's management team and the owners of Sutherland House, Stephen and Linda Cornell, it has not been possible for the wide range of lunchtime and evening events to go ahead.

Mr and Mrs Cornell are currently going through divorce proceedings and both are legally represented, with the business put up for sale.

Dudley Clarke, chairman of the theatre company's management committee, said: “It is a great disappointment to everyone that the fringe events will not now take place this season.

“I know that both Stephen and Linda were keen for them to take place, but their legal advisers have said this is not possible and they have no other choice in the matter.”

He added: “We are all naturally disappointed that the fringe events have had to be cancelled this season and we tried very hard to find an alternative venue in the town, but this was not possible at such short notice.

“However, it is refreshing to see such good ticket sales for all the productions planned for the main theatres at Southwold and Aldeburgh.”

The lunchtime theatre events were due to start on Friday and would have appeared on two days a week until the end of August.

There were also a number of lunchtime jazz concerts planned for Wednesday lunchtimes throughout the summer season, but these have also had to be postponed.

The poetry, music and wine evening on July 31, starring Jill Freud and Peter Howell, will still go ahead, but the venue has been switched to the main theatre at St Edmund's Hall.

david.lennard@eadt.co.uk