Professor Frances Ruane:

There was an adjustment pattern which the board decided in line with the directors. It was decided that we would do a mixed production model in any case. In 2015, the Abbey had four presented shows and two co-produced shows. This is not anything new. I accept the balance over those two years of adjustment was greater than what we would have wanted. We are not changing. The model of mixing, we believe, is the right one. The "balance" – a word used by the Arts Council - within that mixing is what we are talking about. We are not talking about something that is significantly differently. It was already the case that seven main stage Abbey shows were patterned in for 2019. It was early in September 2018 when that position was made.