Venues across UK to share £95k for essential upgrades

Published by The Stage

Floating venue Puppet Theatre Barge is among 14 theatres set to receive funding in the 10th round of Theatres Trust’s Small Grants Programme.

Grants ranging from approximately £4,800 to £7,500 will be distributed from a £95,000 fund backed by Theatres Trust and the Linbury Trust, which are aimed at improving each venue’s resilience, sustainability, accessibility or audience diversity.

Money has been awarded to Accidental Theatre in Belfast, which will use its £7,500 to repair a roof leak, the Sleaford Playhouse in Lincolnshire – awarded £7,000 to install solar panels to reducing the theatre’s energy consumption, alongside Puppet Theatre Barge, the UK’s only floating puppet theatre, which has secured £7,500 to improve the accessibility of its toilet facilities.

Other schemes set to benefit include repair works at the Lowther Pavilion Theatre, energy-efficiency improvements at Sewell Barn Theatre in Norfolk, the Flavel Arts Centre in Dartmouth and Whitefield Garrick Theatre in Manchester, alongside accessibility upgrades at New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth and Mowlem Theatre in Swanage.

Launched in 2021, the Small Grants Programme is funded through to 2028, with additional backing from the Mackintosh Foundation and the Charles Michael Holloway Charitable Trust.

Joshua McTaggart, chief executive of Theatres Trust, said the organisation was “delighted” to support “forward-thinking projects that will protect the future of these spaces as vibrant cultural hubs for their local communities”.

Stuart Hobley, director of the Linbury Trust, said the funded theatres were “rooted in their communities, bringing joy and connection to all”.

He added: “These grants will help theatres to be even more welcoming, accessible and resilient, and to continue to play their valuable role in everyday life.”

Since 1973, the Linbury Trust has awarded almost £250m in grant funding internationally across arts, culture and education initiatives.