A number of Midlands theatres and companies have been successful in their applications for grants in the second round of the government’s culture recovery fund.
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre tops the list with a grant of £568,357, while Birmingham REP has been awarded £553,641 and Derby Theatre £504,631.
The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry benefits to the tune of £485,100. Executive director Joanna Reid commented, "we're delighted at the support of a further Cultural Recovery Fund grant which is intended to cover our losses from April to June, given that restrictions are continuing and therefore continue to impact on our ability to earn normally through ticket sales and catering.”
Northampton’s Royal and Derngate has been given a grant of £435,234, while Nottingham’s Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall is to get £425,000. Councillor Dave Trimble, portfolio holder for leisure and culture at Nottingham city council which runs the venues, said, “after so many months of uncertainty and a couple of false dawns along the way, there’s now a real sense of light at the end of the tunnel.
“This award will help us enormously to look ahead to the spring and summer with confidence and to plan for our reopening and recovery.”
Gloucester’s Everyman Theatre will receive a £401,874 grant and Leicester’s Curve has been awarded £371,000. Curve’s chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster said, “the first grant was literally a lifeline for our theatre and this second grant will enable us to begin to rebuild our business.
“Through this grant, we’ll be able to employ more than 100 freelancers, engage thousands of learners, participants and audiences, and bring communities back into our city centre.”
Malvern Theatres will receive £328,120, Nottingham Playhouse £319,238 and The Courtyard Hereford £276,000.
The Cultural Recovery Fund has awarded £247,209 to the New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme, £240,960 to Buxton Opera House, £175,000 to Birmingham Royal Ballet, £153,000 to Chesterfield borough council which runs the Pomegranate Theatre and the Winding Wheel in the Derbyshire town and £135,024 to Lichfield Garrick.
Derbyshire-based panto company Little Wolf Entertainment will receive £98,000, while Leicester’s Little Theatre has been awarded £47,210 and Derby company Oddsocks Productions will get £27,500.