Northampton’s Royal and Derngate is reintroducing its Unforgettable Gift appeal, which enables the theatre to give hundreds of tickets for its Christmas shows to disadvantaged children and young people across Northamptonshire.
In 2021, children and families of Afghan refugees who have been rehoused in the area are among those who will receive tickets.
Royal and Derngate chief executive Jo Gordon said, “after such a tumultuous year, we’re pleased as an organisation to have the opportunity to make Christmas special for some of the children and families who’ve suffered hardship through the COVID crisis.
“We’re hugely grateful to everyone who supported the theatre through its closed period, and we hope now that the public will join with us again to help make this year’s Unforgettable Gift campaign more successful than ever.”
Customers are invited to add a gift-aided donation when making a booking at Royal and Derngate. Every £10 donated allows the theatre to provide a free ticket for a child who would not otherwise be able to attend its Christmas 2021 productions Dick Whittington, which will run from Thursday 9 December until Sunday 2 January, or The Gruffalo, which can be seen from Monday 13 December until Sunday 2 January.
The appeal is in collaboration with the Northamptonshire Community Foundation and Lamport Hall’s Sir Gyles Isham Trust.
Victoria Miles, chief executive of Northamptonshire Community Foundation, commented, “this will be a welcome and exciting time for children and their families to experience the thrill of live theatre during the festive period.”