Mhora Samuel, Director of The Theatres Trust, today announced a new tranche of successful theatres receiving support from its UK Small Grants Scheme, the seventh round since the scheme began. She expressed her pride that the Trust's Theatres Protection Fund can thus ensure theatres in need and at risk to address urgent building repairs and provide long-term benefit.
Recipients include one of the oldest theatres in the country, the Category B-listed Theatre Royal Dumfries, and one of the newest, the volunteer-run Wardrobe Theatre in Bristol.
The successful theatres in this round are:
- Upfront Arts Theatre, Penrith, which receives £4,000 towards its Upfront Grand Staircase project to build a linking staircase from the ground to the first floor of its theatre foyer area to significantly improve audience flow around the building.
- Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol, which receives £5,000 towards its New Dressing Room project to construct a dressing room within its new premises.
- Pendle Hippodrome, Colne, which receives £5,000 towards its project to repair and fit a new roof to the recently acquired adjacent building, allowing the venue to expand its ancillary facilities.
- Theatre Royal, Dumfries, which receives £5,000 towards its Refurbishment and extensions project to install sound-proof, custom-made auditorium and studio doors, in-keeping with the building, as part of a larger scheme of works to refurbish and reopen the venue.
- Horse and Bamboo Theatre, Rossendale, which receives £5,000 towards its Boo Building Redevelopment Project to ensure wheelchair access to its improved theatre space.
The Trustees of The Theatres Trust will meet in spring 2016 to consider further Small Grants Scheme awards. The scheme was set up to help theatres in need and at risk and applications are invited from theatres needing help for urgent building repairs, to improve their operational viability, to introduce environmental improvements or to enhance physical accessibility.
The deadline for round 8 applications is 12 noon on Wednesday 3 February 2016.