New resilience fund for at-risk theatres

A new £531,000 programme hopes to reduce the threat to theatre buildings currently considered ‘at risk’.

The Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities programme will support communities currently running a theatre and also provide help for those who might be considering taking on a building.

The programme has been conceived by Theatres Trust, the national advisory body for the sector.

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The organisation’s director, Jon Morgan, said the programme will “enable us to help theatres make stronger connections with their local communities and equip them with the skills to make a real and lasting impact”.

He added: “Theatres provide important social and cultural spaces and there is huge value in investing in theatre buildings, which can kickstart the revival of town centres and help reignite local pride.”

Three-year programme

The three-year programme is funded by a £249,900 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with additional support from the Pilgrim Trust and Swire Charitable Trust.

It includes grants to support  ‘strategic and organisational development’ for three to six theatres a year.

Also planned is a training and knowledge sharing programme. This will include training for groups working with Theatre Trust’s Theatres At Risk campaign.

A series of free ‘knowledge sharing’ webinars will be open to all theatres.

Additionally, the funding will support the development of the Theatres Trust advice giving service, through the recruitment of specialist consultants.

The new programme builds on a previous work by the Trust which supported 15 theatres, including Morecambe Winter Gardens and Leith Theatre, over three years.

Historic under-investment

Morgan said theatres are currently facing a variety of issues, including “historic under-investment in building fabric to ensure they meet the needs of communities and are accessible, inclusive and sustainable”.

Due to the pandemic and their enforced closure, many theatres also have reduced reserves, making their position even more precarious.

Many have also been hit by local authority funding cuts, a contributing factor towards the increase in the number of buildings on the Theatres At Risk Register.

Morgan said: “In February this year we added an unprecedented 10 theatres to the Theatres Trust’s At Risk list, and a number of issues are increasing the likelihood of more becoming at risk in the coming months and years.”

According to the register, there are 41 buildings currently deemed to be under threat across the UK.

Cost of living crisis

Morgan added that as well as the fallout from the pandemic, there are new challenges that need to be tackled.

He said: “All theatres are now faced with the cost of living crisis, in particular soaring energy bills and wage inflation, increasing costs.”

As if this wasn’t enough, there is also increasing “pressure on ticket sales and income generation as household budgets are squeezed”.