London's Tricycle Theatre's "Name a Seat" fundraising campaign to fund its redevelopment is being promoted by leading actors including Adrian Lester, Kenneth Branagh, Jim Carter, Gina Mckee, Imelda Staunton and Meera Syal.
280 of the theatre's seats are on sale to the public at £1,000 each to raise funds for the redesign of its auditorium, backstage and front-of-house areas, with 50 more seats, a new air cooling system, better wheelchair access and a new café.
Other campaigns for donations are Make Your Mark for £5,000 to have your name displayed in the front-of-house area and Give a Gift for donations from £1 to £999.
Actor Adrian Lester, who played Ira Aldridge in Red Velvet at the theatre in 2012, said, "under the leadership of Indhu Rubasingham, the Tricycle has blossomed as a venue in and for the community whilst proving itself as an incredible production powerhouse which rivals any UK theatre.
"I am delighted to be supporting this campaign that will lead to the transformation of the auditorium, with increased capacity, improved sightlines, greater accessibility and a better experience for both audiences and actors alike."
Kenneth Branagh added, "it is wonderful that this renovation will allow the Tricycle’s auditorium to be transformed into a state of the art, world-class theatre that truly reflects the quality of the work being produced on its stage."
Meera Syal said, "theatre is about seeing things differently, about hearing stories that help us to understand who we are. The Tricycle plays a crucial role in supporting playwrights from all walks of life, providing a platform for their voices to be heard.”
The Tricycle has so far raised £5.5 million and is £750,000 short of the amount it needs to complete the project.