MANY people will be surprised, as we are, that the board of the cash-strapped Octagon Theatre feels it makes good economic sense to pay £400 a day to its new projects manager.

In addition, the theatre has advertised for a finance manager who will earn £18,000 for three days work a week.

At a time when the theatre has huge debts and 18 people are being made redundant these appointments are likely to raise eyebrows.

We appreciate that the board felt that time was of the essence. But, in view of the fact that public money has been put into the theatre, competitive interviews for the projects manager's position and consideration given to less generous salaries would have been appropriate.

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