Nottingham fashion designer Sir Paul Smith helped to raise £18,000 for the city’s Playhouse through two “audience with” events.
Sir Paul offered his support to the theatre after Nottingham city council stopped all its funding to the cultural sector after effectively declaring itself bankrupt. Nottingham Playhouse lost the whole of its £60,502 annual grant.
Nottingham-born journalist and author Richard Williams interviewed Sir Paul, whose company has grown from one small shop in the city to a global business selling to more than 70 countries on five continents.
The Playhouse’s chief executive Stephanie Sirr said, “we’re so grateful to Sir Paul for his very generous support and are really thrilled with the total raised. It’s a significant sum which will directly impact the work we do in the community.
“Sir Paul has done so much to showcase and support creativity in the city, the UK and internationally. It was wonderful to hear him speak in person, so humbly, about how important it is to encourage creative minds to flourish.”