Funding will keep doors open says Peterborough theatre boss after £639,000 award

The man in charge at Peterborough’s New Theatre has today welcomed the award from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund. saying it will help secure what was looking like an unsettled future at the venue.
The New Theatre, Broadway EMN-190909-153328009The New Theatre, Broadway EMN-190909-153328009
The New Theatre, Broadway EMN-190909-153328009

On the back of the £639,277 grant award announced this afternoon - one of 1,300 made by the government - Theatre Director Richie Ross said: “Today’s news could not be more welcome.

“Without this grant the future was looking unsettled for us at the New Theatre but this funding will allow us to keep our doors open, keep our team in work and to continue to support arts and culture in the city.”

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The running of the theatre, on Broadway, was taken over in September last year by Selladoor and staged a hit-show packed autumn/winter programme.

Then lockdown came.

Richie added: “In the first six months of our opening the New Theatre went from strength to strength, and on the back of this news our team will be working together to continue to build on this momentum following a difficult year with bigger and better shows and experiences for the people of Peterborough in 2021 and securing the future of the New Theatre in the community.”

David Hutchinson, CEO of Selladoor, added: “We are delighted and very grateful to receive support from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund. The last seven months have been nothing short of devastating, both for our company and our industry as a whole.  We have lost eight productions, as well as many of our team members, as we have tried to sustain a business with zero income. This financial lifeline allows us time to

reimagine and restructure the business, so that we can be ready and able to help bring our sector back to life post Covid-19.  

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“There is a long way to go, but this grant gives our company a fighting chance of recovery.  In turn, we fully intend to do everything that we can to support our venue partners, fellow organisations and all of fantastic professionals who work in our industry, so that can all move forward in our joint journey towards getting the arts back in business.”

The New Theatre award was one of six to Peterborough organisations totalling £1.1million. Read more here.