Funding from The Theatres Trust will contribute £1,200 to the accessibility element of the 50th anniversary capital project at Newcastle’s Live Theatre, which will include installing a new assistive listening system and handheld captioning equipment in its main theatre and power-assisted doors in its auditoria, rehearsal, backstage areas and offices.
Live is one of six theatres to benefit from the funding which will total £25,000. The other five theatres are Bristol Old Vic (£4,000), Spire Arts Centre in Brighton (£5,000), The Barn in Banchory, Aberdeenshire (£4,800), Mercury Theatre in Colchester (£5,000) and Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford (£5,000).
“Responding to the pandemic has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds this year,” said Theatres Trust Director Jon Morgan, “but it is important that theatres continue on the journey to being truly inclusive spaces and that accessibility does not fall by the wayside. We are therefore delighted to be able to support six theatres with projects that will improve accessibility, whether it is for their staff and performers or the local communities they serve.”