Latest news with #CheltenhamPlayhouse
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
'At-risk' Cheltenham Playhouse given £25k grant by council
A community theatre has been given a council grant after announcing it would close without urgent Playhouse announced last month that it needed to raise an initial £50,000 by the end of June as it did not have the "depth of funds" required to Burge, acting chair of the Board of Trustees at Cheltenham Playhouse, said the "first milestone is within reach" after receiving a £25,000 grant from Cheltenham Borough Council, which owns the Cheltenham Playhouse, which will celebrate its 80th birthday in 2025, hopes to raise £100,000 by the end of the year. A long-term masterplan had been devised by new theatre trustees but financial support is needed to keep the doors of the 180-seat Cheltenham Playhouse oldest parts of the Grade II listed Regency building date back to 1806, and the former swimming baths still exist underneath the Tailford, cabinet member for economic development, wellbeing, culture, and public realm at Cheltenham Borough Council, said Cheltenham Playhouse "makes the world of art inclusive and accessible"."It's only right that we come together and do all we can to ensure the theatre has the funding in place to continue now and long term, for the benefit of our future generations," he added. Mr Tailford added the council would be "working closely" with Cheltenham Playhouse to see what it can do to support Burge from Cheltenham Playhouse said the theatre was "so grateful" for the grant."This grant has changed the outlook of our emergency fundraising and our first milestone is within reach, allowing us to think more positively," Mr Burge said."Along with the incredible donations we have seen from our community, this figure allows us to plan for a brighter future as we move to the second phase of our fundraising."
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Emmerdale's James Moore backs Cheltenham Playhouse fundraiser
An Emmerdale actor has backed a campaign to protect the future of an 80-year-old Moore, who plays Ryan Stocks on the soap, said he owed much of his career to Cheltenham Playhouse, where he acted in many productions as a theatre hopes to raise £80,000 after its reserves were used up during the pandemic."It's such an important place. They do so much for young actors in the area," Mr Moore, who lives in Gloucester, said. The theatre, which receives no fixed funding, is fundraising to celebrate its 80th year "so that for another 80 years we can thrive as a centre for the arts in this wonderful community".It has been open as a theatre since 1945 and puts on more than 100 performances a year as well as being home to Theatre Studio, the UK's only performing arts school based in a working Moore who has appeared in Emmerdale since 2018 said: "I have so many fond memories of being there."He said many of the people he had performed there with "went onto massive drama schools in London and New York and all over the world"."I think a lot of people would say, including me, that they owe their careers in a sense to what they've learnt at the Playhouse," he said. Trustee Neil Burge said the theatre "is very viable as a running business" but the pandemic saw its savings pot used up "not the way we wanted to, just to sustain, just to stay alive".He said the building, a former bath house, is ageing and they are struggling to keep up with its Long, chair of Cheltenham Operatic and Dramatic Society said it was "vital" the theatre stayed said it had provided a "safe place" and helped her find a new community when she was orphaned at age group's latest production, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has a cast ranging in age from 13 to over 70 and the theatre has "brought us all together, all ages, all backgrounds", Ms Long said.
