Since the launch four weeks ago the Theatre Support Fund+ has reached its first milestone by raising £125,000 for charity. Organisers have received more than 7,500 orders for ‘The Show Must Go On’ t-shirt and related merchandise with packages shipped to 42 countries across the globe. The orders are being packed daily by a team of volunteers from within the West End theatre community.
The proceeds from the project will be split between Acting for Others and the Fleabag Support Fund who are providing financial aid to people working in the theatre industry who are experiencing hardship as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, as well as the NHS Covid-19 Urgent Appeal.
As lockdown measures begin to loosen across the UK today, it is important to remember that the theatre industry will likely be one of the later sectors to resume so continuing with the fundraising is as important as ever.
The t-Shirts continue to be available via the website www.theatresupportfund.co.uk priced at £16.50 each including VAT.
Organisers Damien Stanton and Chris Marcus said: “The response to the project so far has been incredible. It’s heartwarming to see the support towards the theatre industry and the people who work within it. We’re receiving messages every day from people expressing how much they’re missing being able to go to the theatre. By buying a t-shirt they’re hoping to give something back to the industry they love so much.”
Chris Marcus runs ‘MarcusHall Props’, a props supervising and prop making company which works on many shows in the West End. Damien Stanton works both as an assistant stage manager and a freelance graphic designer.
The Theatre Support Fund+ and ‘The Show Must Go On’ t-shirt have been created in response to the Coronavirus pandemic which saw theatres across the UK being closed and caused disruption to the lives of thousands of people working in the theatre industry.
The shirt design is an amalgamation of the world famous branding of 16 of the biggest musicals in the West End: & 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. The organisers wished to create a unique item with all of these shows side by side, in unity, longing for a time when ’the show can go on’ again.
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