Clydebank Musical Society has warned they will fold in the face of a massive new bill to put on their shows at the town hall.

The group has performed at the venue for around 40 years but has been told the cost to book it will rise from £3,100 to £9,600 per show – a 210 per cent increase.

A petition launched last week opposing the price hike has gained more than 2,000 signatures.

With a bill of more than £19,000 for their two annual musicals, for the space alone, organisers have said they face having to close the charity.

Christine Long, chairwoman of CMS, said: “Two things will happen: we’ll cease to exist and become Dumbarton Musical Society or we’ll close.

“The town hall is there for the people. The clue is in the name – it’s the Clydebank Town Hall, not the Clydebank Wealthy Hall.”

Ms Long added that the group already can’t meet the full costs with ticket sales and have to raises funds throughout the year.

Lewis Brown, head of the junior committee, has an unconditional offer to study musical theatre in Motherwell in autumn.

The 17-year-old, who started with the club aged 11, said: “The town hall makes it more of an occasion. You feel you’re on the West End – it’s a massive stage and a massive crowd.”

Elaine Haddock told the Post her daughter was crippled with shyness before performing at the town hall with CMS.

She added: “A lot of people can’t afford private dance and music in a town that houses a lot of low income families.”

Mummers Theatre Group confirmed they have quit the town because of the “crippling” costs.

Joanne McLaughlin, of the Mummers, said: “Coupled with the continued determination by WDC to exclude the public from such services, iIt could spell the end of affordable local theatre in this area. It is nothing short of tragic.”

Councillors last month were unforgiving in their analysis of the situation. Cultural committee chairman Denis Agnew said they were not a “community centre”.

When contacted about CMS, said he was concerned in the £330,000 lost by the venue last year.

Bailie Agnew told the Post: “The bottom line is they were heavily subsidised in the past and any group can apply to have money for fees – money was put into CVS and other trust funds for groups to apply.”

He added: “Something needs to be done about the town hall otherwise we’re going to lose the town hall.”

Labour councillor John Millar, of the cultural committee, objected to the new fees. He said: “The increase in charges is astronomical and clearly designed to force local groups out of their town hall.

“This needs sorted as soon as possible. The SNP administration has gone too far.”

Councillor Jonathan McColl, leader of West Dunbartonshire Council, said charges for hire of the main hall have increased by £18 per hour and added that CMS qualify for a 25 per cent discount.

He added: “I will be joining Bailie Agnew at a meeting with CMS in the next couple of weeks to discuss how we can assist with any shortfall in funding, but the shortfall will be much smaller than CMS have estimated. The show must go on, and it will.”