12th October 2020
The Playhouse is delighted to share with you all the recent news that our bid to ACE Culture Recovery Fund was successful.
Alnwick Playhouse has been awarded £197, 668 funds as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) to help face the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure they have a sustainable future, the Culture Secretary has announced today.
The Playhouse is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced today as part of the very first round of the Culture Recovery Fund grants programme being administered by Arts Council England. Further rounds of funding in the cultural and heritage sector are due to be announced over the coming weeks.
The news of this funding has brought joy and relief to everyone at the Playhouse as it will help us survive the financial implications of closure and also help us to navigate new socially distanced ways in which to continue as the creative and social hub for our community.
A socially distanced programme reduces our audiences to only 60 people and so we have an ambition to develop new staff skills and technology to explore a digital offer which can extend far beyond the Playhouse stage. We also aim to invest in a digital and visual arts programme to help us keep involved with the creative community and leave a legacy for the future.
The Playhouse shall also be working in partnership with other Northumberland Venues, Queens Hall, Hexham and The Maltings, Berwick towards a joined up digital project celebrating Northumberland at Christmas.
This vital new funding is gratefully received and most reassuring to our community, partners and valued supporters that the Playhouse will survive for future generations to come.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said:
“This funding is a vital boost for the theatres, music venues, museums and cultural organisations that form the soul of our nation. It will protect these special places, save jobs and help the culture sector’s recovery.
“These places and projects are cultural beacons the length and breadth of the country. This unprecedented investment in the arts is proof this government is here for culture, with further support to come in the days and weeks ahead so that the culture sector can bounce back strongly.”
Chair, Arts Council England, Sir Nicholas Serota, said:
“Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages. This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”
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Alnwick Playhouse is temporarily closed until further notice and performances are currently being cancelled/postponed.
The Playhouse continues to plan to reopen safely in November, alongside other Northumberland venues. In the meantime, we shall continue to progress with variations to the original building works which will take the main auditorium and studio out of use. These building variations would have been impossible to plan around the busy Playhouse programme and these improvements will benefit everyone when we re-open.
We would like to reassure our customers we are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. The Playhouse will not re-open until it is safe to do so.
In relation to the latest Government advice we are currently closed and a number of performances are being cancelled or postponed. Please click here to see how your performance may be effected: https://www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk/whats-on/
Customers who have tickets for cancelled/postponed performances will be contacted in the coming weeks. Customers will be given the option to donate, receive a credit note or be refunded. Please ensure your contact details are correct by either logging in to your online account, leaving an email at info@alnwickplayhouse.co.uk or calling the box office on 01665 660550.
If you do not hear from us please get in touch.
DONATE – As the Playhouse receives only 8% public funding, we are reliant on ticket sales and secondary spend, so this interruption means we face difficult times ahead. We respectfully ask any patrons who can afford to donate the price of their ticket or simply take a credit to use against a future performance later in the year instead of a refund to do so during the closure.
BECOME A MEMBER – Actively support new initiatives and enjoy exclusive benefits through becoming a Friend or Front Row member. A small annual payment will allow you to enjoy a whole year of pleasure and make a real difference to your local Playhouse. Benefits include discounted ticket prices, invites to our season previews, priority booking on the biggest shows of the season, the Playhouse brochure delivered directly to your door and the opportunity to become more actively engaged with events and opportunities.
BOOK TICKETS – Book now for upcoming shows later in the year! With a diverse programme of theatre, music, comedy, dance and more there is something for everyone to look forward to. Customers are to be reassured that should a performance be cancelled or postponed we are happy to make changes to your booking.
The Box Office is online 24/7 and open Monday – Saturday from 10am to 4pm for telephone and email enquires only. The building is closed to the public. Please note our staff team are very busy at this time so your patience is appreciated.
Telephone: 01665 660550
Email: info@alnwickplayhouse.co.uk
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For further information and updates over the coming weeks refer to the website and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).