Tag: Capital Theatres

More emergency funding for Capital Theatres

Flagship venues are to receive funding as part of the ongoing emergency coronavirus (COVID-19) support for cultural and heritage organisations. The news comes as Scotland is allocated £97 million from the UK Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

Capital Theatres – which operates the Festival Theatre, the King’s Theatre and The Studio in Edinburgh – will receive £500,000 in addition to £250,000 already awarded through the Performing Arts Venue Relief Fund to help weather the effects of the pandemic.

The Burrell Renaissance Project in Glasgow has been awarded £750,000 to help cover increased project costs caused by the COVID-19 crisis and V&A Dundee will receive £1 million of support.

The funding is part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to support culture and heritage sectors as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19. So far almost £98 million of emergency funding has been allocated. 

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Culture is vitally important to all of our lives, and the Scottish Government is determined to do everything within our powers to see the sector through this crisis. This includes providing financial support to our flagship cultural venues, as well as the work already underway to help smaller organisations and individuals within the culture sector.

“This latest funding announcement brings the Scottish Government’s total COVID-19 support package for our culture and heritage sectors to just under £98 million. We know further support will still be needed, and the major issues presented by the pandemic are not going away, which is why we will continue to work in partnership with the sector to support them to not only survive the pandemic but to thrive in future.”

CEO of Capital Theatres Fiona Gibson said: “Today’s emergency funding announcement from the Scottish Government for Capital Theatres is greatly appreciated. It is the short-term financial lifeline that we have campaigned tirelessly for in recent months. 

“We would very much like to thank the Scottish Government for their support and recognition, acknowledging the crucial contribution our theatres provide to the local, national and cultural sector economies. This will enable us to continue supporting our core staff, freelancers and communities alike.”

Scottish Government emergency COVID-19 funding for cultural and heritage sectors also includes:

  • £12.5 million for Performing Arts Events Venues Relief Fund
  • £2.2 million for Grassroots Music Venues
  • £4 million for Museums Recovery and Resilience Fund
  • £10 million for the Events sector
  • £3.8 million for National Trust for Scotland to protect jobs
  • £15 million for a Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund
  • £5 million to address hardship faced by creative freelancers
  • £5 million to support artists developing new creative work that will make a significant contribution to Scotland’s recovery from COVID-19
  • £3.5 million for independent cinemas
  • £3 million for youth arts, including the Youth Music Initiative
  • £21.3 million for Historic Environment Scotland
  • £5.9 million to support heritage organisations through committed grants
  • £270,000 for the New Lanark Trust World Heritage site
  • £4 million for historic environment recovery
  • £1 million for Scotland’s Science Centres

And in England, 35 of the country’s leading cultural organisations and venues will be the first to receive grants between £1 and £3 million from the UK Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced this morning.

£75 million will protect some of the nation’s most significant stages, from the iconic Shakespeare’s Globe and the internationally renowned Sadler’s Wells to major theatres like the Old Vic, Sheffield Crucible, Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the Theatre Royal Plymouth.

These famous organisations have been essential stepping stones for some of the UK’s brightest stars including Adrian Lester, Abi Morgan, Mark Rylance and David Tennant.

More than £500 million has now been allocated from the Culture Recovery Fund to nearly 2,500 cultural organisations and venues of all sizes, including cinemas, heritage sites, museums, circuses, festivals and comedy clubs across the country, to help them plan for reopening and restarting performances and programmes.

The certainty and security provided by these grants will also help to support organisations as they plan for the future and create opportunities for freelancers.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “As part of our unprecedented £1.57 billion rescue fund, today we’re saving British cultural icons with large grants of up to £3 million – from Shakespeare’s Globe to the Sheffield Crucible.

“These places and organisations are irreplaceable parts of our heritage and what make us the cultural superpower we are. This vital funding will secure their future and protect jobs right away.”

All four nations are benefiting from the UK Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, with £188 million barnetted to the Devolved Administrations to run their own process – £97 million for Scotland (see above), £59 million for Wales and £33 million for Northern Ireland.

This funding will enable them to increase the support already available to the arts and cultural sectors in each nation.

Curtains Up: transformation at Sick Kids

A transformation has been afoot at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children this week.

Capital Theatres’ Learning and Participation Coordinator Cat Sheridan has been working with Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity’s (ECHC) arts team at the hospital to tempt those who can climb out of their beds to transform their space into one filled with their own stories and imagination.

A continuation of a brilliant established relationship between Capital Theatres and ECHC throughout 2020, Curtains Up is a brand-new project which brings a bit of old school overhead projector fun to bedsides, creating unique and playful scenes on the inside of hospital curtains.

The children created original drawings which have been projected and traced onto their hospital bed curtains, proudly displaying their art to their families and the rest of the ward. Curtains Up gives children autonomy over their environment while staying in hospital, creates a child centric environment and fosters creativity between families and staff.

Mackenzie and Cat Sheridan working together on Curtains Up

Cat Sheridan, Learning and Participation Coordinator at Capital Theatres, said: “We are hugely excited to be back working in partnership with Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity on this project.

“It has been a real treat for me to deliver on the wards, working with fantastic staff and being greeted by so many smiles. The joy is in seeing children and their families grow in confidence, take charge and have so much fun! Our aim is to encourage creativity and boost their sense of well-being. All through transforming something as simple as curtain with a bit of imagination.”

Fiona O’Sullivan, Deputy Director of Children’s Wellbeing, said: “The visits from Capital Theatres always prove hugely popular with children and young people in the hospital so we are very excited to welcome them back for the Curtains Up project.

“Decorating their hospital space is a fantastic and fun way for children to get creative and make their bedside environment feel a little less scary and more like their own home. 

“We would like to say a huge thank you to Capital Theatres for getting involved with our vital arts programme as it’s projects like this one that enable ECHC to continue to transform the lives of children and young people in hospital.”

Lesley-Ann, play specialist, said: “It was such engaging activity for the older age groups to do. It’s something thing different and was so nice to see them engage with it so much. Nancy went away with big a smile on her face, she was totally loving it!” 

Nancy and her mother

King’s Ransom: Capital Theatres thanks public for ‘incredible show of support’

Capital Theatres, Scotland’s largest theatre charity, has thanked the public for its incredible support of the theatres through its Crowdfunder campaign, an urgent appeal for support launched last month.

The Crowdfunder closed at noon yesterday having raised £86,900 from 1670 people, more than doubling its original target of £35,000.

Capital Theatres, which operates Edinburgh’s much-loved King’s Theatre, Festival Theatre and The Studio had asked for donations to help ensure its three city centre theatres can re-open when it is safe to do so, and to ensure continued access to creativity and the arts for the most vulnerable communities during COVID-19. 

The money raised through this outpouring of love and affection for the organisation and its theatres will be put to great use protecting the core staff of the theatres, maintaining the heritage buildings and preparing for a March re-opening should government restrictions, public safety and science allow.

A series of rewards proved extremely popular with supporters, especially opportunities to get behind the scenes with the tech team at the theatres, enjoy a glass of fizz with Elaine C Smith or a chat about theatre voices with Ian Rankin over zoom, an illustrated limited edition poem about the King’s Theatre by King’s Ambassador Alexander McCall Smith, and the opportunity to appear in the next panto!

Fiona Gibson, CEO of Capital Theatres said: “All of us here at Capital Theatres are very humbled by the response from the public to our appeal. We know we still have a long way to go to reopen our doors, but an incredible show of support like this, with wonderful comments and memories shared, clearly demonstrates what our theatres mean to so many.

“It gives us all the passion, energy and determination we need to ensure we survive this crisis through bringing back great shows to our stages when we can and to support our community throughout. A huge, huge thank you to everyone who made this possible with your incredibly generous donations. We can’t wait to welcome you back over our doors when it’s safe for us to do so.

“A huge thank-you too to our King’s Ambassadors, our national companies Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet and to Birmingham Royal Ballet as well as our corporate partners for their in-kind support of the campaign, and to all of our stakeholders for their beautiful words of encouragement and support.”

Other members of the Capital Theatres staff team added their thanks as news of the scale of donations was shared.

“I was blown away watching all the rewards get snapped up and our total just soar and soar. It truly brought home a sense of belonging to, and our value in the community both at home and afar! I’m looking forward to seeing all of you soon. Thank you for your support!” commented Mark Pringle, Head Flyman

Cat Sheridan, Learning and Participation Coordinator, said: “I am so overwhelmed by the incredible support for Capital Theatres and our ‘Raise The Curtain’ programme, without which none of our digital engagement sessions, with our wonderful participants, would be possible. 

“Every donation given means we can bring enjoyment and inspiration to everyone who participates in our digital activities, but particularly to people living with dementia, care experienced children and young people, Edinburgh’s Special Needs Schools, children in hospitals, and young trans activists in the LGBTQ+ community.”

And Joanna Miller, Head of Marketing added: “We have been overwhelmed at the outpouring of love for the theatres from the 1670 donors and the generosity of our Friends, customers, Edinburgh’s arts community and the city’s residents. This money will help us to provide entertainment and inspiration during this current pandemic whilst our venues are closed. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Capital Theatres is currently actively campaigning to receive emergency Government funding at the same level as other publicly supported theatres, which would allow the theatres to continue to play a vital part in Edinburgh’s year-round thriving arts scene and support the local and national economy.  

A petition calling on the Scottish Government to recognise the scale of emergency facing Capital Theatres on Change.org has secured 12,667 signatures to date and is still open for those looking to lend their voice to its campaign.

The money raised through the Crowdfunder is a fantastic support for Capital Theatres. Those who missed the Crowdfunder but would like to support the theatre charity’s work can still donate at www.capitaltheatres.com

#SaveOurTheatres and #AfterTheInterval

Just a few of the comments received on the Crowdfunder page:

Lynne said: “I love the panto very much and was always going to donate but the chance to BE IN the panto was too good to pass up! Wishing you all the best.”

Martin said: “A building, team and company I love. They have welcomed, supported, cajoled and helped me develop as an amateur stage manager.️”

Jennifer said: “Life is so poor without live arts and culture. I miss you very much and am desperately hoping you survive this ongoing lengthy crisis.”

Linda said: “Theatres give so much joy and pleasure and we really need to know they will survive this terrible pandemic. Here to support you in your time of need.”

Evelyn said: “No question our theatres are worth preserving, and the artists and technicians working in the theatre should be supported, not only because the theatre is their livelihood, but also because the arts are actually vital to our well-being (and make life so much more interesting!). I have missed the fun and buzz of live performances (not to mention the cancelled festivals!) and I look forward to the day the doors open again!”

Mairi said: “The Festival Theatre holds a special place in my heart; I’ve been coming here since it opened in 1994 and it is one of the things I have most missed over the last six months.”

June said: “We can’t let this happen – everything is a venue in the Festival, but if we are still to be internationally renowned as a city of culture we must have theatres of international standard, with their own Edinburgh heritage. (And there is no panto in the world like it!)”

Susan said: “My whole family has been coming to The Kings panto for nearly 30 years, never missed it once! Would be gutted if my kids couldnt carry on the tradition! Our best night of the year! Good luck! X️️”

And as Jo succinctly said: “Long live the King’s!”

Lottery cash to keep capital’s theatres afloat

Capital Theatres, Scotland’s largest theatre charity, has received £168,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support its three venues – Festival Theatre, King’s Theatre and The Studio, through this period of closure.

This vital funding, which will help maintain the iconic buildings in a safe condition, has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

This funding from the Heritage Emergency Fund will go towards covering essential costs such as electricity, gas, IT, insurance and maintenance of the theatres whilst they are closed. It will also go towards a small element of staff salaries for those who are responsible for ensuring the venues are secure and maintained whilst closed, and who will plan how we can adapt our venues to safely reopen our venues when we are allowed to do so.

At least 90% of Capital Theatres’ income is generated from ticket sales and trading income, meaning that the sudden closure meant an immediate loss of the two main sources of income.

To date Capital Theatres has refunded 52,900 tickets with a value of over £2.5m. The postponement of the panto until 2021 will result in a further £2.3m loss of income. 

It is currently campaigning to receive emergency support to the same level as other publicly supported theatres which would allow Capital Theatres to play its part in the renewal solution for Edinburgh and Scotland.

Beyond its 3 key venues the organisation provides local community health and wellbeing benefits through an extensive programme currently adapted to run virtually, delivers a key element of Edinburgh’s year-round cultural offer for local citizens and retains 230 jobs in the city’s cultural sector.

Kate Smith, Director of Development at Capital Theatres said: “Capital Theatres, Scotland’s largest theatre charity, is responsible for the Festival Theatre, King’s Theatre and the Studio. When we closed our venues in March due to Covid-19 we saw a 90% reduction in our income from loss of ticket sales. 

“This vital funding from the Heritage Emergency Fund will help maintain our buildings in a safe condition. On behalf of everyone at Capital Theatres we would like to thank National Lottery Players.”

The funding, made possible by National Lottery players, was awarded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Emergency Fund. £50million was made available to provide emergency funding for those most in need across the heritage sector.

The UK-wide fund aimed to address both immediate emergency actions and help organisations to start thinking about recovery.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All of these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis.

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as Capital Theatres during this uncertain time.”

Like Capital Theatres, other charities and organisations across the UK that have been affected by the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus outbreak are being given access to a comprehensive package of support of up to £600 million of repurposed money from The National Lottery.

This money is supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and span the arts, community, charity, heritage, education, environment and sports sectors.

Thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million is raised every week for good causes, including heritage of local and national importance. By playing The National Lottery, people up and down the country are making an amazing contribution to the nationwide-response to combatting the impact of COVID-19 on local communities across the UK.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Emergency Fund is now closed for applications.

To find out more about how The National Heritage Emergency Fund is supporting the sector at this time please visit: 

https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/responding-coronavirus-covid-19

To find out more about the National Lottery Good Causes, visit: 

www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/coronavirus-pandemic-response

King’s Panto cancelled (Oh yes it is!)

But the gang will be back next year!

It is with great sadness and a huge feeling of disappointment that Capital Theatres today announces that this year’s King’s panto, Sleeping Beauty has been rescheduled until November 2021.

In line with the King’s panto producer, Qdos Entertainment’s announcement on Monday 3 August, the uncertainty around ongoing restrictions and maintaining social distancing means that it is not possible for us to open on 28 November 2020 as planned. All customers who have purchased or reserved tickets will have them automatically transferred to 2021. Capital Theatre’s box office will be in touch with those customers over the coming weeks.

Sleeping Beauty was to have opened at the King’s Theatre Edinburgh on Saturday 28 November 2020 and run until Sunday 17 January 2021.

Starring Allan Stewart, Andy Gray, Grant Stott and Jordan Young, the spellbinding fairytale was last performed as the King’s pantomime title in 1993 and has only been performed three times in its 114-year history. Sleeping Beauty will now run from the 27 November 2021 until Sunday 16 January 2022 and become the last pantomime to be staged at the King’s before the theatre undertakes its major refurbishment in the summer of 2022.

As Scotland’s biggest and best-selling panto, with over 90,000 theatregoers attending the King’s pantomime each festive season, the show represents nearly 30% of Capital Theatres’ annual income and the postponement will result in the massive loss of £2.3m at the worst possible time for the theatres.

Fiona Gibson, Chief Executive of Capital Theatres said: “The impact of the global pandemic has been devastating on all theatres, and it has become a reality that to keep everyone safe and the organisation secure, mounting a full-scale production without social distancing in the current cycle would be challenging.

“There are only 3 occasions in its 114 year history that a King’s panto has not taken place, the last time being 1968 ….so 2020 will be another landmark moment for all the wrong reasons! 

“We know this will be as much of a blow to you, our fantastic and loyal audiences, as it is to both the cast who love bringing you such joy every year, and to our tremendous staff who love making it happen. For so many it is the cornerstone of their festive celebrations.

“I still remember to this day, at the age of eight, my parents taking my brother and I through to Edinburgh to visit relatives and as a festive treat we all went to the King’s to see Mother Goose, with Stanley Baxter at the helm – we were mesmerised, and that was the start of my long love affair with the theatre.

“Capital Theatres is Scotland’s largest theatre charity and the impact of this decision is devastating. The panto alone brings in nearly 30% of our income each year. Since we closed our doors on the 16 March we have had no source of trading income, have refunded millions of pounds in tickets and cancelled, rescheduled or postponed scores of performances. 

“Without doubt the loss of the Kings Pantomime is our biggest blow to date.” 

Michael Harrison, Managing Director of Qdos Entertainment said: “I was studying in Edinburgh when I saw the first ever pantomime Qdos produced at the King’s Theatre.

“I think I saw it four times because I just loved the genre and I knew that Allan was someone very special. As one of the longest running pantomimes in the country, and certainly one of the most popular it is incredibly difficult to step away from it this year and resign ourselves to a year without that wonderful atmosphere and love between the audience and performers on stage – that is pretty unique”

Panto dame Allan Stewart added: “I can’t imagine a Christmas without a Kings Panto. But in the words of the Terminator … ‘We’ll be back’!”

Andy Gray said: “Very sad that we won’t be trying to wake Sleeping Beauty this year…. but it’s been a strange year 2020 for us all hasn’t it?

“I tell you this … We look forward to seeing you all in 2021! Stay safe…. and wash your hands!”

Edinburgh’s very own panto baddie Grant Stott added: “Just like everyone who loves our annual Panto at The Kings Theatre Edinburgh, I am absolutely gutted at the prospect of no show this year – it will be my first Xmas away from the Kings since 1999.

“However, even baddies can be optimistic and I am already looking forward to staging Sleeping Beauty in 2021 – which, in the circumstances, now promises to be one of the most special Pantos ever staged at The Kings!”

Jordan Young said: “I’m incredibly disappointed that Sleeping Beauty won’t be at the Kings this Christmas. The most important thing is safety for everyone, staff and audience alike.

Last year was my first year in the Kings Panto and I loved every single second. I can’t wait to be back on that stage next year with the team and deliver the show that everyone will be wanting and deserve.”

Capital Theatres continues to be hugely grateful to all those people who have been able to take gift vouchers or donate their tickets as opposed to refunds which helps to protect your theatres for the future.

Fiona Gibson added: “We truly believe that Capital Theatres can be a key part of the solution for Edinburgh getting back on its feet. Only by continuing to thrive can we help sustain the vitality of the arts, the cultural ecology, the economy and the wellbeing of the community in our wonderful city and surrounding areas.”

If you feel you can help further, please consider making a donation via the website at capitaltheatres.com.  

Shows at all Capital Theatres venues are currently programmed into 2021 and 2022 and tickets are available to buy online. 

Edinburgh Theatres to close

A STATEMENT FROM CAPITAL THEATRES 

We would like to reassure our customers that we are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and adhering to guidance issued.

The advice of the Scottish Government is that events involving more than 500 people should not take place, with effect from Monday 16 March 2020.  This applies to mass events across all sectors – including sporting events, cultural events, and religious gatherings.

Capital Theatres can announce that we will be cancelling or postponing all performances at the Festival Theatre, The Kings Theatre and The Studio throughout March and April as an initial measure.  This will come into effect from Monday 16 2020 at 12 noon.

Customers who have tickets for performances during March and April will automatically receive a full refund over the coming weeks.  Our box office staff will contact customers directly if there are any issues, please bear with us as we work through the refund process at this challenging time.

We are currently working to reschedule cancelled performances to dates in the autumn and will keep all customers up-to-date as quickly as possible regarding this.

Please refer to our website and social channels for further updates over the coming weeks.

We greatly appreciate the support of our audiences at this testing and anxious time. It is a fast-moving situation; we are monitoring it closely and will keep you posted.  We are hopeful that things will get back to normal soon and we hope to see you return in the not too distant future, stay safe.

Spinning Songs: local intergenerational choir to perform at Festival Theatre

A GROUP of North Edinburgh retirees are set to take to the stage at one of the city’s major venues with the help of a local primary school. Continue reading Spinning Songs: local intergenerational choir to perform at Festival Theatre