Theatre workers saddle up for Dawn

POPULAR DIRECTOR SUFFERED A LIFE-CHANGING STROKE

THEATRE staff will be putting a show on the road this weekend to help a popular former colleague who suffered a life-changing stroke.

Dawn Taylor was the “larger than life” director of operations at the Theatre Royal before suffering the stroke on August 2 last year.

She was unconscious for more than two months and spent a further six in hospital before husband Ian, who also works at the theatre as front of house manager, insisted she be brought home to Ryton.

Because Dawn is completely paralysed down her left side, she requires 24-hour nursing care.

Ian said among extensive alterations to their home, a wall had to be knocked down and a reinforced ceiling installed to take the weight of the hoist required to lift his wife in and out of bed.

To help with the expense of all this, Theatre Royal chief executive Philip Bernays sanctioned bucket collections after shows and is now leading a team of six who plan to cycle 100 miles through Northumberland on Sunday in a further fund-raising effort.

On the JustGiving crowdfunding site, he explained that Dawn had worked at the Theatre Royal for nearly 25 years, rising from box office assistant.

“She was the life and soul of the theatre, enthusing everyone with her passion and commitment, entertaining everyone with her infectious humour, and loved by everyone for her generous spirit,” he wrote.

Now, he added, she was unable to look after herself or return to work and her husband and children needed to carry out “many and expensive adaptations to their house”.

He urged: “Dawn spent 25 years helping others at this theatre – we ask that you now help her.”

Philip will be joined on the bike ride by Jo Kirby, the theatre’s director of marketing and sales, IT engineer Andy Wright and a team from dAtbAr.

Jo, confessing the furthest she had ever cycled was 77 miles, said: “We were all thinking of doing some fundraising to help Dawn and then Aldo rang me and suggested the 100 mile bike ride.

“People have been really generous already and we’ve had a lot of support from the Friends of the Theatre Royal.”

Andy, who described Dawn as “a larger than life character”, said he would also be raffling his lightweight Carrera bike after the ride to raise more money for Dawn and Ian.

Ian said: “The family is extremely grateful to everyone who has helped us – Philip Bernays and the management team at the Theatre Royal, and also audiences and colleagues.

“There wasn’t any financial support when I decided to bring Dawn home but I’m quite certain I did the right thing.”

He said there had been no warning of the stroke although Dawn had suffered a “funny turn” once previously, had a check-up and been given a clean bill of health.

“This has been terribly sad and upsetting for all of us,” he said.

The couple, who met at the theatre, have two daughters, aged 24 and 16, and a 15-year-old son. Ian said: “Dawn is a very determined lady but, then, I’m very determined too and she knows she has my backing all the time.”

Ian said money raised from the bike ride and raffle would go towards a vehicle capable of accommodating Dawn’s wheelchair.

If you wish to donate to Dawn’s fund, go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/theatre-bikeride.