Philanthropists give £125k to improve ladies’ loos in theatres

The inadequacy of women’s toilet facilities in UK theatres is being directly tackled by the Theatres Trust.

Theatres are being invited to apply for grants of up to £15k from the new £125k ‘Spend a Penny’ scheme, which has been funded by a theatre-loving husband and wife.

The scheme plans to award grants to ten theatres to improve toilets for women, including unisex and gender neutral facilities.

A personal passion

Support for the fund comes from philanthropists Simon Ruddick, who is Chairman of Albourne Partners and a trustee of the Theatres Trust, and his wife Susan.

The Trust said the couple are keen theatregoers, who “just aspire to enjoying the intermission equally”.

Inadequate facilities

British Standards require that a 500-seat auditorium has eight ladies’ toilets. The Trust said: “Even though this seems inadequate for audiences whose time for use is strictly limited, there are many theatres which do not even meet this standard.

“The anxiety caused by long queues, with unappealing conditions often awaiting even the lucky few, meaningfully diminishes the joy of theatre for about half the audience.”

The closing date for grant applications is 26 October.