The upper gallery or ‘gods’ should make a comeback in the Dutch theatre, culture minister Ronald Plasterk said on Tuesday evening.

The minister was responding to criticism of the new cabinet’s plan to cut €50m from its spending on the arts. The government wants to switch towards a more profit-centred strategy for the arts. Greater differentiation in pricing is part of that, said Plasterk.
‘Make the Friday night black-tie events a lot more expensive because people who attend those can afford it,’ the minister said. ‘Then hold a cheaper concert for students on a Wednesday afternoon.’
The performing arts sector says the cuts in subsidies will lead to more expensive prices overall. Ticket prices rose 136% between 1996 and 2004, the performing arts lobby group claims.