Theatres Trust joins calls for government support to save our local theatres

The Theatres Trust has warned that over half of the nation’s charity-run small theatres could close permanently within the next three months without government help.

In response to the grim prediction, the national public advisory body for theatres set up to ensure everyone can access live performance where they live, is increasing its own support for small theatres as they fight to survive the Covid-19 crisis.

Noting that as many as 136 small local theatre operators could go into administration over the next three months, the Theatres Trust has announced a package of measures at the same time as continuing to lobby the Government to help re-build the UK’s world-leading theatre industry.

Announcing the new support package, Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan said: “These are tough times for the theatre sector and we are talking to the government about the additional support theatres need, but we hope that with these resources we can help more theatres to survive the current crisis.

“We have already seen some operators go into administration and unfortunately others are likely to follow, but Theatres Trust has a strong track record of supporting theatres to be saved and returned to cultural use and is working to ensure that no theatres are permanently lost due to Covid-19.”

The increased support announced includes:

• the appointment of an additional adviser to help small theatres with business planning, budgeting and cashflow, fundraising and essential building maintenance
• the creation of a new Theatres Trust Skills Bank to match theatres with experts willing to offer free advice on preparing to reopen including hygiene and social distancing needs and general property management
• the repurposing of the Trust’s small grants programme to support theatres to cover the additional costs of reopening after several months’ closure including making adaptations for increased hygiene and social distancing measures

Morgan currently sits on the Entertainment and Events Working Group which is part of the Government’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce and is working with the Government and health officials to determine how theatres can reopen with minimised risks to staff, performers and audiences.

At the same time the Theatres Trust is joining the clamour of industry and public voices calling for the Government to invest in the theatre sector including extending the furlough scheme to protect further operators going into administration.

Angela Thomas