Theatres Trust announces urgent repairs grants and launches new grants scheme

The Theatres Trust and the Wolfson Foundation have awarded four theatres a total of £54,520 as part of their Urgent Repairs Scheme. The scheme was set up to help theatres in need of immediate repair and maintenance works.

The latest – and final – round of urgent repairs grants awards funds to the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr, the Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, the King’s Theatre Portsmouth and Wilton’s Music Hall in London.

The Gaiety is a Category B listed theatre first built in 1902. The grant of just over £10,0000 will support urgent repairs to the Gaiety’s external signage. 

Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff will receive £13,960 to help address accessibility improvements.

Portsmouth’s Kings Theatre is a Grade II* listed theatre built in 1907. The theatre’s safety curtain has been found to be lined with asbestos. A £15,000 grant will support the safe removal and disposal of the safety curtain and its replacement. 

Wilton’s Music Hall in London’s East End is also a Grade II* listed building. Wilton's recently completed a four-year capital project with support from Heritage Lottery Fund and numerous trusts. The Hall will receive a grant of £15,000 to provide for an access hatch and bridges within the ceiling void to allow for inspection and maintenance – and for a full survey of the ceiling’s condition.

The Urgent Repairs Scheme was a partnership between the Theatres Trust and the Wolfson Foundation. The scheme has now closed.

New grants scheme

The Theatres Trust and the Wolfson Foundation also announced the launch of a new Theatre Improvement Scheme. This annually-themed scheme will distribute £100,000 each year for the next three years with awards of up to £20,000 per project. The theme for 2018 will be Improving Accessibility. The deadline for applications will be 13 September 2018. Full details are available on the Theatres Trust website.