Five year theatre award programme launched

Mary
Authored by Mary
Posted: Sunday, May 25, 2014 - 22:41

Trustees of the Clothworkers’ Foundation have announced their intention to make a single award of up to £150,000 each year over the next five years to a regional producing theatre in England as part of a broader £1.25 million programme to support the dramatic arts.

A different England region will be selected each year, beginning with the South West in 2014.  The first winner will be announced at the prestigious UK Theatre Awards ceremony at the City of London’s Guildhall on Sunday 19 October.

Although the award can be used for anything from capital works to sponsoring a touring production,   it must be used for a specific purpose and may not be added to the theatre’s general funds.  In making their decision, the Trustees will take into account the applicant’s achievements (with greater emphasis on the more recent) as well as the strength of the project proposal.

The award is open to venue members of UK Theatre that operate under the UK Theatre/Equity Subsidised Repertory Agreement. 

For 2014, the Bristol Old Vic, Cheltenham Everyman, Plymouth Theatre Royal and Salisbury Playhouse have been invited to apply.  In 2015, venues in Yorkshire will be invited to apply. It is currently planned that this will be followed by the North East and North West, East and West Midlands and finally East and South East.

Organised by UK Theatre, the UK Theatre Awards are the only nationwide awards to honour creative excellence and the outstanding achievement seen on and off stage throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Following the success of last two years’ events, the UK Theatre Awards 2014 will again be presented at a lunchtime ceremony at London’s historic Guildhall, a magnificent medieval Grade 1 listed landmark building situated in the City of London. Details of the compère for the event, and other special guests, will be announced nearer the date.

Rachel Tackley, President of UK Theatre, said: “With so much pressure on regional producing theatres, it is wonderful that the Clothworkers’ Foundation are choosing to target their funds on venues that mean so much to their local communities and play such an enormously valuable role in the overall ecology of UK Theatre.   We look forward to working with them over the next five years to help spotlight the incredible work being done all around the country.”

Andrew Blessley, Chief Executive of the Clothworkers’ Foundation, commented: “The Clothworkers’ Foundation is pleased to announce the introduction of a new five year £1.25m Dramatic Arts proactive grants programme. 

"The cornerstone of this exciting new initiative is the annual Clothworkers’ Theatre Award of up to £150,000 (£750,000 in total over the next five years) to a producing English regional theatre.  We are delighted that the winner of the 2014 Clothworkers’ Theatre Award will be announced at the UK Theatre Awards in October, and would like to thank UK Theatre for their invaluable support in helping us to develop the award.  In addition, we are allocating £450,000 to support talented students whose financial circumstances would otherwise prevent them from accepting a place on an acting or technical course at selected institutions”.

UK Theatre Awards are sponsored by five major organisations involved in theatre across the UK: The Stage, W&P Longreach, Harbottle & Lewis, Theatre Tokens and White Light.

Further details about UK Theatre and the UK Theatre Awards can be found at: www.uktheatre.org

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