An extraordinary row has erupted between a comedy agency that represents top UK talent and a Sutton theatre it claims has failed to pay thousands of pounds in performance fees.

Off the Kerb Productions has pulled the plug on five high-profile upcoming shows at The Secombe, blaming "financial instability" at Sutton Theatres Trust, which runs the venue.

The agency, which represents stars including Michael McIntyre, Jo Brand and Dara O’Briain, said the trust owed it £3,432 for a gig by comedian Mark Steel in May and claimed a second theatre company had also not been paid for a separate performance.

But the trust's director accused Off the Kerb of breaching its contract and lashed out at the agency for a "crass and unedifying way to conduct business".

Off the Kerb had been booked to bring prominent comedians Josh Widdicombe, Jeremy Hardy, Seann Walsh, Shappi Khorsandi and Marcus Brigstocke to The Secombe between next week and November.

This week the company warned fans not to buy tickets for the shows, which it said "are not going to happen".

The performances were still being advertised on the Sutton Theatres website today, although no tickets for any upcoming shows could be purchased.

The link to the booking section of the website returns the message: "We are sorry but we cannot find the event you are looking for."

The trust, which took over the running of The Secombe in Cheam Road and The Cryer theatre in Carshalton from Sutton Council last year, said sales had been suspended "due to holidays and maintenance" and denied it was experiencing financial problems.

But Ann Kennedy, financial manager at Off the Kerb, told the Sutton Guardian: "If you contact Sutton Theatres no one gets back to you.

"I feel that there is something wrong here and another theatre company I have spoken to have also not received any payment for shows that took place in February.

“They still have our shows listed and I want people to know not to buy them because they are not going to happen.

“We have done our best to bring top-quality performances to the area, but due to the financial instability of the company none of our acts will be going ahead."

She said the agency cancelled the upcoming shows after Sutton Theatres Trust missed a deadline of August 3 for payment for Mark Steel's show on May 14.

The trust insisted it had "no financial issues" and refused to comment on why Off the Kerb had not been paid.

Executive director Beri Juraic said: "Off the Kerb are threatening to cancel a scheduled performance in breach of their contract with Sutton Theatres using local media instead of direct lines of communications as a way of resolving an internal dispute.

“This is a crass and unedifying way to conduct business and certainly not one we wish to join them in.

"We cannot comment on any commercial agreements with third parties due to confidentiality between third parties and us."

Chris Hislop, the venue’s PR manager, added: "There are no financial issues. Not even a little bit.”

He declined to comment on whether any shows had been cancelled or whether audiences would be refunded. 

Josh Widdicombe, star of Channel 4's The Last Leg, had been due to appear at The Secombe on Thursday next week.

Asked why tickets could not be purchased from the Sutton Theatres website, Mr Juraic said: "Tickets are currently not on sale due to holidays and maintenance period. 

"As a small organisation, we would not be able to process tickets properly during this period."

In 2014 Sutton Council revealed plans to shut down the 396-seat Secombe and 125-capacity Cryer theatres, citing budget cuts.

But the venues were saved from closure when the trust took the reins in June last year.

Both were listed as "at risk" by national advisory body the Theatres Trust last year.