Grants ranging from £2,000 to £5,000 have been made to six theatres across the country.
The Small Grants Scheme is run by the Theatres Trust for the purpose of helping venues meet the cost of urgent building repairs, improve operational viability or access and introduce environmental improvements.
Applications for the Scheme opened in the Spring and projects totalling £140,000 were submitted.
Amongst the first recipients are Grade II* Wilton’s Music Hall, Grade II Art Deco Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool and Grade II Georgian Sleaford Playhouse, but buildings do need to be listed or at risk to be eligible for a grant and new writing venue Soho Theatre, Oldham Coliseum and The Half Moon Young People’s Theatre have also received grants.
The Theatre Trust’s Theatres Protection Fund has £50,660 to distribute this year. This has come from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, Judy Craymer MBE and a collection by J&C Joel from visitors at PLASA 2012. Rob Dickins CBE, Chairman of The Theatres Trust, acknowledges the generosity of these donors and hopes that "more theatre professionals will follow their lead" to help theatres in need.
Further awards will be considered when the Trustees meet in December.