The team behind the Theatre Support Fund+ has unveiled a new Christmas range of The Show Must Go On! merchandise to coincide with the announcement that the successful lockdown-launched fund has now raised half a million pounds for Acting For Others, The Fleabag Support Fund and NHS Covid-19 Urgent Appeal.
Commenting on the response to their initiative, the Theatre Support Fund’s founders Chris Marcus and Damien Staunton said: “Every day we become more overwhelmed with the generosity and support of everyone who has supported us on the journey so far. When we set up the campaign, six months ago we didn’t imagine for a moment we would reach a milestone like this.
“We’d always hoped we would be back working in theatres by this point, so our journey hasn’t ended yet. We will continue to unite and work together to raise monies for these charities to help all of those that have been affected from the pandemic until our theatre doors are open once again.”
Paying tribute to the team’s fundraising efforts and supporters, the vice president of Acting For Others and figurehead of The Fleabag Support Fund, Phoebe Waller-Bridge said: “I would like to thank the founders of Theatre Support Fund+, Chris and Damien for their astonishing work raising £500,000 for the theatre industry. Their efforts have helped hundreds of freelancers who have received support from the Fleabag Support Fund and we wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without the dedication, imagination and downright style that they brought to their campaign.
“I have been thrilled to be able to support this project and thank them deeply for choosing to donate to the Fleabag Support Fund. I’m consistently blown away by the care for and within the theatre community. Chris and Damien are two of its heroes!”
The announcement of the fundraising landmark follows on from the announcement of the rescheduled dates for the highly-anticipated The Show Must Go On! Live At The Palace Theatre concert series after the original dates were shelved due to the November lockdown.
The seven star-packed special performances at London’s Palace Theatre in aid of Acting For Others and The Fleabag Support Fund will now take place from 20-24 January 2021.
Presented by the successful lockdown-launched Theatre Support Fund+ and Take Two Theatricals, The Show Must Go On! Live At The Palace Theatre shows will be directed by Luke Sheppard and Anna Fox.
The shows featured in the branding are: & Juliet, The Book of Mormon, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, Hamilton, Les Misérables, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Matilda the Musical, The Phantom of the Opera, The Prince of Egypt, Six The Musical, Tina The Musical and Wicked.
Launched by theatre favourites Christopher Biggins and Bonnie Langford, the new festive range of The Show Must Go On! merchandise includes Christmas cards, water bottles, lanyards and hoodies. All merchandise is available to buy from the fund’s website www.theatresupportfund.co.uk with 100% of the profits split between theatre charities Acting for Others and the Fleabag Support Fund and the NHS Covid-19 Urgent Appeal. All items are produced in the UK, using sustainable printing methods and non-toxic, vegan inks and dyes.
The Theatre Support Fund + has also collaborated with cult ice cream brand Northern Bloc in the creation of the new The Show Must Go On! ice-cream. Available to buy in Waitrose stores the profits from each 500ml tub of the vegan, white chocolate and honeycomb ice-cream will go to Theatre Support Fund+.
Angela Thomas
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