Theatres Trust Backs 10 At-Risk Theatres on Road to Reopening

Theatres Trust, the national advisory and advocacy body for theatres, has announced the third  round of grants to be awarded through its Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities  programme.

The 10 theatres to receive a share of the £74,835 fund are Amulet Theatre in Shepton Mallet,  Derby Hippodrome, Doncaster Grand, Margate Theatre Royal, Mechanic’s Institute in Swindon,  Morecambe Winter Gardens, Oswaldtwistle Civic Centre and Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre in  Cannock, Salford Victoria and Theatr Ardudwy in Harlech. The theatres are all on the Theatres at  Risk Register 2025, published by Theatres Trust in January, and are at various stages in their  journey towards restoration and revitalisation.

The grant programme aims to help the restoration, reopening or revitalising process for  Theatres at Risk through funding expert support with focuses on increasing organisational  resilience, improving skills and engaging more people with community and heritage projects.  Work funded in this round includes condition surveys, business planning, fundraising and  audience development strategies, a viability study and a governance review.

Joshua McTaggart, CEO of Theatres Trust says, All the theatres on our Theatres at Risk Register  are special buildings that have real potential to bring joy and opportunities to their communities.  We are thrilled to support 10 of these fantastic theatres with essential strategic projects that will  lay the foundations for their revival. We look forward to supporting them through this journey  and seeing the progress they make. 

Funded thanks to a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund as well as funding from the  Pilgrim Trust and Swire Charitable Trust, Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities aims to  reduce the threat to At Risk theatres and strengthen the theatre sector’s resilience as it deals  with the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and difficult funding landscape.

Stuart McLeod, Director England – London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, says  It’s fantastic that the next round of theatres that will benefit from this important project by the  Theatres Trust have been announced. Theatres are integral to our communities but have faced  unprecedented challenges in recent years, with many at risk. Thanks to money raised by National  

Lottery players, they will have a chance to adapt and change for a thriving future, with the  legacy of this project felt for many years to come. 

Sue Bowers, Director of Pilgrim Trust says, We are delighted that this funding partnership  continues to provide encouragement and support for these important theatrical buildings at the  heart of their communities, helping to chart their way forward to sustainable futures.

Main Image: Courtesy of Theatres Trust (Morecambe Winter Gardens)

Back to HOME