SHELLEY THEATRE TRUST

Pre- COVID our venue provided quality entertainment for many different groups of people in our community. We held relaxed performances for those with disabilities and additional needs. Before enforced lockdowns the theatre was supported by a group of 100 volunteers who work in support roles such as front of house, bar, box office, gardening to name a few. We were known locally as a place where everyone is welcome, we actively make space for diverse interest groups to meet and build a stronger community together. When we were running normally back in 2019 we attracted audiences of almost 30,000 per annum to watch a broad programme of theatre, music, comedy and cinema.

We operated as a social enterprise and did not rely on external funding which whilst being an achievement it was to our detriment during the pandemic as a lot of funders would only support causes that had funding from them before. The pandemic devastated the organisation as we were forced to close. Our team was disbanded and we were not equipped to access funding during the Covid crisis. We couldn’t re-open in the gaps between lockdowns because we couldn’t make the building Covid safe and social distancing rendered the financial model unviable.

We seek support to reopen this important historic venue, once again making it a space where people can come together.  We need to raise funds to pay for core stafff to set up the programme and contracting as the lead time on the first performace is 3-6 months, during this run in period there is no income to pay for a team.