Over £600,000 has been raised through the lockdown fundraising efforts of the industry to help fellow professionals through the Covid-19 fund set up by leading theatrical charity Acting for Others.
Paying tribute to the fundraising efforts of over 120 extraordinary organisations and initiatives, the umbrella group for 14 industry charities will distribute £290,000 next week with more to follow.
Commenting on the amount of money raised for those within the industry in need, the co-chair of Acting for Others Stephen Waley-Cohen said: “This is a wonderful amount to be able to pass to our member charities, and through them to those of our fellow theatre workers in need. We have been overwhelmed by the ingenuity of our fundraisers and the generosity of their donations during this unprecedented time of need; the way the community has come together to support each other has been outstanding.
“It continues to be a very uncertain time for the industry, and the money raised from the Covid-19 funds will support theatre workers emotionally and financially as we navigate this phase of lockdown. We can’t wait for the moment that we can all safely return to the studios and theatres across the UK for live theatre, but for now we are very grateful for everyone who is able to support the charity through any means.”
Projects involved in raising funds for theatre and entertainment charities include All The Web’s A Stage, Fleabag for Charity, Les Misérables – The Staged Concert Charity Download, Noël Coward Foundation, Theatre Support Fund – The Show Must Go On, Ross Noble Live and Spotlight.
Viewers can still access performances for Theatre Together’s All The Web’s A Stage, the star-packed online fundraiser which featured live performances across a variety of entertainment genres on Shakespeare Day 23 April. Proceeds will be donated to a variety of charities and funds including Acting for Others.
The Amazon Prime Video screening of Fleabag presented by creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, DryWrite, Soho Theatre and Annapurna Theatre in association with National Theatre Live in London and Amazon Prime Video will be available until 28 June. Proceeds will be donated to Acting for Others and other charities.
The Mackintosh Foundation is donating £5 from every download of the star-packed Les Misérables – The Staged Concert to be shared between Acting For Others, the Musicians Union Coronavirus Hardship Fund and Captain Tom Moore’s Walk for the NHS fund.
The Noël Coward Foundation marked the centenary of the playwright’s first produced play by making a £50,000 donation to Acting For Others to help those in need.
A range of merchandise featuring The Show Must Go On branding produced by the Theatre Support Fund has raised over £125,000 in aid of Acting For Others, Fleabag Support Fund and NHS charities.
Spotlight has also donated £50,000 to Acting For Others.
A series of six films from comedian Ross Noble’s Brain Dump tour are available via Soho Theatre On Demand with proceeds going to Acting For Others.
Members of the 2013 West End cast of From Here To Eternity are due to reunite on 22 June 2020 for a special event with all proceeds going to Acting For Others. Stuart Bryson, Darius Campbell, Siubhan Harrison, Robert Lonsdale will join the show’s lyricist Tim Rice and theatre producer and director Simon Grieff for the one-night only performance.
The Acting for Others charities are Actor’s Children’s Trust, Dancers’ Career Development, Denville Hall, Drury Lane Theatrical Fund, Equity Charitable Trust, Evelyn Norris Trust, SafetyCurtain, King George V Fund for Actors and Actresses, Ralph and Meriel Richardson Foundation, Dance Professionals Fund, The Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund, The Royal Theatrical Fund, Theatre Chaplaincy UK and The Theatrical Guild.
Angela Thomas
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