Theatres Trust announces final four Urgent Repairs recipients

Theatres Trust has awarded four theatres a total of £54,520 in the final funding round of the Urgent Repairs Scheme. This scheme, set up in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation, helps theatres in need of immediate repair and maintenance.

The final round of the pilot scheme awards grants to Ayr Gaiety, Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, King’s Theatre Portsmouth and Wilton’s Music Hall in London.

Ayr Gaiety | £10,560

The Gaiety is a Category B listed theatre first built in 1902. This grant will support urgent repairs to the Gaiety’s external signage. Repairs required to this iconic feature of the building were not included in the theatre’s recent refurbishment, but are more serious than first suspected, and cannot be deferred. The grant will fund a full survey and repairs to the sign.

Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff | £13,960

Chapter is a multi-arts centre supporting emerging artists in Cardiff. The grant will address accessibility improvements for the two main performance spaces. This will help Chapter meet the demands of audiences and visiting companies. The works include the replacement of theatre flooring, installation of accessible showers and an emergency pull cord system.

Kings Theatre, Portsmouth | £15,000

The Kings Theatre is a Frank Matcham designed Grade II* listed theatre built in 1907. The theatre was equipped with the then latest innovations in fire safety, including the safety curtain. Sadly, a safety curtain lined with asbestos. The grant will support the safe removal and disposal of the safety curtain, and its replacement. The safety curtain’s heritage artwork will be recreated in the new curtain.

Wilton’s Music Hall, London | £15,000

Wilton’s Music Hall is a fine example of a restoration project respectful of the building’s changing identity and is now a busy arts venue. This Victorian music hall was brought back from a state of disrepair into being a full-time performance space, specialising in music and theatre. The grant will provide for an access hatch and bridges within the ceiling void to allow for inspection and maintenance and for a full survey of the ceiling’s condition.

Previous recipients of the Urgent Repairs Scheme include Royal Court Theatre Bacup, Saltburn Community Arts and Trinity Centre, Bristol.

The Urgent Repairs Scheme was a pilot project between Theatres Trust and Wolfson Foundation that ran for two rounds in 2017/18. The scheme has now closed.

Image & credit | Kings Theatre, Portsmouth