Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre has purchased a defibrillator and from Tuesday 1 April will serve as a public access defibrillator site.
According to the British Heart Foundation, there are around 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK every year and when someone goes into cardiac arrest, every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces their chances of survival by 10%.
James Barber, director at the theatre, said, "Every year, at the end of the Christmas pantomime run, the backstage and technical staff mount a 'cod' version of the show for the cast, friends and an ever-increasing audience.
"Each year, the money raised from this performance goes to a charity. For Christmas 2013, the money was raised to purchase a defibrillator as a mark of respect, but more importantly, deep friendship for Chris Whelan who created the sound for our pantomimes with great skill, humour and fun for many years.
"We hope that in Chris's memory this potentially life-saving device will be an asset to the Guildford community."
Victoria Jukes, pantomime deptury stage manager, added, "It was staggering to raise so much money, and it meant a lot to us that this charity fund was chosen as a dedication to our dear friend Chris Whelan, who we sadly lost to heart failure last October."
Staff at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre will receive training in how to use the defibrillator on 1 April, ahead of the machine's installation, delivered by Surrey First Community Responders, who volunteer for South East Coast Ambulance Service.