Staffing changes at Ipswich Regent Theatre have required workers to reapply for their jobs - but are not “cost-cutting measures”, their employer insists.

Ipswich Borough Council, which runs the theatre, said the changes were intended to give the staff greater employment rights and refuted suggestions of staff redundancies to make budget savings.

A borough spokesman said: “There are no cost-cutting measures relating to the people who work at our Regent Theatre.

“We are changing the way we employ some of them because they work there regularly and as such are entitled to full employment rights such as holidays and sick pay. Previously, they have been on casual contracts without such rights.”

The council said the new approach will give the employees a “guaranteed number of hours” in a number of different roles.

“We are asking people who have been on casual contracts previously to let us know which roles and how many hours they want to be contracted for so we can ensure we have a fair and transparent process and can ensure that we have the right skills in the right places,” the spokesman added.

“The council is working closely with those affected and with Unison to minimise the impact of the process of delivering this change which is ultimately beneficial to the workforce.”