The Stage (11/26/25) Hemley, Matthew

Producer and Society of London Theatre board member Patrick Gracey last week claimed that Members of Parliament (MPs) should be given free tickets to shows because it helps them make “informed decisions” on such areas as arts education and investment. His comments were in response to a news article in which standards commissioner Daniel Greenberg called for MPs to stop taking gifts and free tickets because they risk damaging voters' trust. Gracey responded: "When an MP attends the theatre, they are not accepting a frivolous perk but engaging with a sector that employs hundreds of thousands of people; attracts 35 million attendees a year and drives tourism, inward investment and creative exports. Every £1 spent on a ticket generates a further £1.40 in the local economy."

Read the full story from The Stage.