Public Accounts Committee to question RTÉ over 'risks' of Toy Show Musical

Vivienne Clarke

The commercial risks involved in putting on Toy Show The Musical “appear to be too high”, according to the chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley.

Mr Stanley told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland the PAC will be asking RTÉ's director general Dee Forbes what market research was done in advance of the production.

The queries come after seven of the production's 30-show run at the Convention Centre in Dublin were cancelled.

Mr Stanley said there is a crowded marketplace when it comes to family entertainment at this time of year, adding there is also a cost of living crisis, so people might not have the same disposable income as previous years.

"These are questions that need to be examined," he said.

There appeared to have been an expectation by RTÉ that the event would sell itself because of its association with the very popular annual Late Late Toy Show television programme, he suggested.

“On the face of it, it appears that proper market research was not done. There were empty seats, shows being cancelled.”

This was happening at a time when RTÉ’s finances were not healthy, he added.

“We want to make sure that RTÉ is successful. The risks in this scenario appear to be too high.”