Theatres Trust have warned that due to the Covid-19 crisis and temporary closures of theatres, 57% of small theatres in the UK could
fail without government support.

Due to the ongoing closure of theatres across the UK, the Theatres Trust has warned that as many as 136 small local theatre operators could go into administration in the next three months. However, in response to this the national public advisory body for theatres has announced a package of additional support for small theatres to help them survive the impact of
Covid-19.

This package to support smaller theatres is set to include:

• Taking on an additional adviser to help small theatres with business planning, budgeting and cashflow, fundraising and essential building maintenance.
• Creating a new Theatres Trust Skills Bank to match theatres with experts willing to offer pro bono advice on preparing to reopen including hygiene and social distancing needs and general property management.
• Repurposing its small grants programme to support theatres to cover the additional costs of reopening after several months’ closure, including making adaptations for increased hygiene and social distancing measures.

Through its work, Theatres Trust supports local theatres at the centre of their communities including Market Theatre Ledbury, Sheringham Little Theatre and Settle Victoria Hall, the oldest music hall in the world which has become a true community centre delivering shopping, prescriptions and making PPE during the Covid-19 crisis.

Theatres Trust Director Jon Morgan said: “These are tough times for the theatre sector and we are talking to the government about the additional support theatres need, but we hope that with these resources we can help more theatres to survive the current crisis. We have already seen some operators go into administration and unfortunately others are likely to follow, but Theatres Trust has a strong track record of supporting theatres to be saved and returned to cultural use and is working to ensure that no theatres are permanently lost due to Covid-19.”

To find out more about the work the Theatres Trust is doing visit: http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/