£800,000 in grants sets stage for theatre revival
The Theatre Royal has received two hefty grants totalling more than £800,000 from the government to get back on its feet after the pandemic.
The Cultural Recovery Fund (CRF) has allocated £423,499 to the theatre as one of 925 recipients to ensure it can deal with Covid challenges and thrive in better times ahead.
“Theatre Royal Bath is delighted to receive further Arts Council Support as we continue our growth and recovery following a time of unparalleled difficulty for arts organisations during the pandemic,” said director Danny Moar.
“Since theatres were allowed to reopen in May, we have been thrilled to welcome audiences to over 300 performances across all three of our auditoria here at the Theatre Royal.”
But the theatre was one of only 11 arts organisations to also receive an extra award from the CRF’S Sustainability Funding Scheme, bagging £389,868 to bring the total to £813,367.
The so-called sustainability funding has been targeted to identify and support new business operations to ensure a sustainable future for Crffunded bodies. The fund also supports organisations to improve diversity and inclusion, progress toward ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and increase education and outreach.
The announcement was made by Nadine Dorres, newly appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who is also a passionate campaigner against elitism. “Culture is for everyone and should therefore be accessible to everyone, no matter who they are and where they’re from,” she said.
“Through unprecedented government financial support, the CRF is supporting arts and cultural organisations so they can continue to bring culture to communities the length and breadth of the country, supporting jobs, boosting local economies and inspiring people.”
Over £1.2 billion has already been awarded from the CRF, supporting around 5,000 individual organisations and sites across the country ranging from local museums to West End theatres, grassroots music venues to festivals, and organisations in the cultural and heritage supply-chains.
Since theatres shut nationwide in March 2020, Arts Council England funding has ensured that the Theatre Royal could reopen to audiences, initially in October and December 2020 when restrictions allowed.
The theatre finally reopened fully again in May 2021 after the third national lockdown.
“Between May and December this year, we have mounted eight national tours serving theatres throughout the country,” said Danny, “as well as staging three West End transfers as part of our contribution to the reopening of the theatre industry nationwide.
“With a busy Christmas season ahead and a full spring season announced, we continue to work on a host of exciting plans for 2022, including at least five theatre productions already confirmed which will tour to theatres across the UK after opening in Bath.”
As well as providing a creative learning programme in-person and online, the Theatre Royal has resumed touring productions across the UK and transferring shows to the West End.
In recent months, Theatre Royal Bath Productions has staged West End transfers of Oleanna and Blithe Spirit and is currently co-producing Four Quartets, all of which first opened in Bath.
Meanwhile the Theatre Royal’s production company continues to tour shows this autumn, including co-productions of Private Lives, Blue/orange and Josephine which are playing at theatres nationwide.