Community theatres receive share of £100,000

The Theatres Trust has announced the latest recipients of its small grants programme.

The eighth round of the scheme has seen 21 community theatres split £100,000 with grants of up to £5,000 each.

Among the beneficiaries is the Corn Exchange in Newbury, which received funding to install a new live-audio accessibility system that can be used by hearing-impaired audience members, while Sunderland’s Arts Centre Washington and the Y Centre in Leicester will both install hearing loops in their venues.

Elsewhere, environmental sustainability projects that received funding include LED upgrades and replacing boilers at the Ilkley Playhouse, Millgate Arts Centre in Saddleworth, Pound Arts Centre in Corsham and the Puppet Theatre Barge in London.

Theatres Trust CEO Joshua McTaggart said the grants help to ensure cultural spaces can continue to serve their local communities.

“The vast array of projects funded in this round illustrates the many ways that theatres are keen to improve their buildings to welcome wider audiences and host a broader range of performances and activities,” McTaggart added.

The next round of the programme is currently open for applications, with a deadline of 6 June.