I do understand your disappointment and I am very sorry you feel this way, however, I can assure you that we did consider various options for the Friends scheme and spent time assessing the benefits we were offering the four different levels. I am sure you will appreciate that we have to ensure there is an obvious difference between the four levels, particularly between Corps de Ballet and Coryphee (there wasn't before now), otherwise there is no reason why anyone would become a Corphyee Friend when they can get the same benefits as a Corps de Ballet for less money! 

We are now offering an increasing number and variety of events for our Friends throughout the year and as we have many more people signing up for them and space is at a premium it was time to reassess what benefits we were offering in return for membership. We toyed with increasing membership fees but we felt our Corps de Ballet Friends would prefer to relinquish the opportunity to bring a friend to events than pay more.

As I am sure you are aware, as Scottish Ballet is a charity and we receive public funding from the Scottish Government the Development team's focus is to raise money for the Company and sign up as many new Friends as possible. If we continue to offer all our events to 'friends of Friends' then we will never be able to increase membership numbers or income, which would be a missed opportunity. I am sure you will agree that the number and quality of events available to all Friends is very good value for money and I hope you will continue to attend the events.

If you would like to discuss this further please email or call me (you will find my details on our website). I would be happy to speak to you in person.

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards,

Antonia (Head of Development)