A QUESTION mark hangs over the future of the summer seaside shows in a North Yorkshire town, promoters have warned.

Veteran director John Redgrave, whose Rave On production was one of four presented each week during the peak season at Scarborough's Futurist theatre, said: "Scarborough is the leader of the pack as far as things are going nationally."

However, he warned that other top resorts, such as Blackpool, were also facing similar problems with plummeting audiences.

"My experience has convinced me not to return to Scarborough next year. Scarborough seems to me to be a barometer of what has gone wrong all the way round the resorts," he said.

While there had been a steady decline over the past ten to 15 years, this year had been particularly poor.

"It has gone from people being able to put on the same show for 18 weeks, twice nightly, to not being able to put one show on and fill it."

At the Spa Theatre, The Krankies show ended a month early when schools reopened.

Star Ian Tough said: "Scarborough's venues are suffering from severe under-investment and an ill-advised programming policy."

A council spokesman said: "At the end of the day it is private promoters who are choosing what shows they want to put on.

"They know the business and our venues are very happy to support them. All councils are under pressure, so guarantees are a thing of the past."

Sam Shrouder, whose company, Clear Channel Entertainment UK, stages shows at the Futurist, said: "There is no doubt at all it is tough.

"Fewer people are going to these resorts for holidays. Sometimes you just have to react and cut your cloth accordingly rather than assume you can turn back the clock."