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Local arts organisation Theatre Orchard has received a grant of £67,037. This comes from the second round of the Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund.
The money will enable the charity to run socially-distanced outdoor performances in Weston-super-Mare. The plan is to include some of the south west’s best theatre, dance, comedy, music and family shows.
A community engagement programme is also planned for local groups such as young people and families.
During lockdown, Theatre Orchard provided free online activities such as
- youth theatre
- creative writing
- adult drama
- dance
- poetry
- arts and crafts
- storytelling and more.
Theatre Orchard is also launching new drama sessions in Weston-super-Mare. The aim is to help people express themselves and to support community wellbeing. This is thanks to a grant of £34,140 by the People’s Health Trust, using money raised through the Health Lottery South West.
The two-year Theatre Forum project will see weekly, open-access drama sessions for local people. It will culminate in a community showcase performance next year. This will be created and shaped by participants.
The overarching theme of the project is ‘home’ and what this can mean to different people. It ill look at people facing a diverse range of social and emotional issues in their everyday lives.
Theatre Forum is an expansion of Open Door, Theatre Orchard’s free drama group for adults. It is a safe space where participants can use the creative process to address feelings of isolation and other social issues.
If you are interested in being part of Theatre Forum, email the team at engagement@theatreorchard.org.uk.
For updates about the outdoor shows and other initiatives, visit www.theatreorchard.org.uk or follow on Facebook or Twitter.
The above photo shows the Belly of the Whale performance at the Whirligig festival in summer 2019. Photo credit Paul Blakemore.
Balcony appeal to secure future of Curzon
Clevedon’s historic Curzon cinema has launched a fundraising campaign to ‘bring back the balcony’. It aims to create more space for social distancing.
Coronavirus has had a devastating financial impact on the 109-year-old cinema. A fundraising appeal has been launched to reopen the historic balcony and increase capacity. This will give the charity the best chance of recovery.
Due to Covid-19 social distancing and cleaning measures, audience capacity has been reduced from 330 to 90.
The balcony has been hidden from view since 1972. Reopening it will increase the cinema’s socially distanced capacity by 30 per cent. This will put the charity in a stronger position to survive and recover.
In 2019, the cinema ran a successful fundraising appeal for a new roof. Last year the false ceiling inside was removed to increase ventilation.
The cinema received a £83,342 grant from the Culture Recovery Fund from the BFI. This was to enable it to diversify its programming and activities. It will help to sustain recovery and reach out to new and younger audiences.
This grant is not to be spent on general operating costs. Therefore the cinema is now looking to raise £70,000 to reinstate the balcony.
Donations can be made
- online
- send a cheque payable to ‘Curzon Clevedon Community Centre for the Arts’ at Curzon Cinema and Arts, 46 Old Church Road, Clevedon BS21 6NN.