Staffordshire’s New Vic Theatre has been awarded £353,225 by Arts Council England to help upgrade its facilities. The money will enable the theatre-in-the-round to provide the “most significant” investment in the theatre’s main auditorium for more than 30 years.
The improvements will allow the theatre to make the most of its building and maximise seating in the auditorium. The plans include replacing the theatre’s 600 seats, improving the theatre balcony, building a new stage and improving access for theatregoers.
New Vic managing director Fiona Wallace said, “thirty-three years after the theatre was built, after welcoming more than three million theatregoers, the auditorium urgently needs investment.
“We’re looking forward to engaging theatregoers in the process now that we have the green light to go ahead.”
The New Vic will take an extended break from producing shows in summer 2020 with the closure of the main auditorium during the works. The theatre will run a fundraising campaign to meet the project’s overall target of £600,000.