George Osborne took to the stage today to announce a major boost for regional theatres.

The Chancellor trod the boards at the historic Theatre Royal Brighton to announce a major tax relief for production companies.

Brighton and Hove theatregoers are set to be among the first to reap the benefits of the newly announced financial incentive when a Theatre Royal Brighton Productions and English Touring Theatre production of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia comes to the city in January.

The team behind the hotly-anticipated production have said a show of its size with a touring cast and crew of 20 people would not have been possible without the tax break.

The Chancellor will also visit Hove and Hastings today.