Scotland’s largest theatre charity, Capital Theatres, like other arts venues during the crisis, has been suffering loss, with at least 90% of its income being generated from ticket sales and trading income.
The receipt of £168,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will go towards supporting its three venues, Festival Theatre, King’s Theatre and The Studio, through this period of closure, giving the charity the vital help needed to maintain their buildings in a safe condition.
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 responsible for ensuring the venues are secure and maintained whilst closed, and who will plan how venues can be adapted to reopen safely when allowed to do so.
Capital Theatres is currently campaigning to receive emergency support to the same level as other publicly supported theatres which would allow them to play its part in the renewal solution for Edinburgh and Scotland.
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.”
Beyond its 3 key venues, Capital Theatres provide local community health and wellbeing benefits through an extensive programme, currently adapted to run virtually, delivering a key element of Edinburgh’s year-round cultural offering for local citizens and retaining 230 jobs in the city’s cultural sector.
Capital Theatres stages over 700 performances each year in a broad and inclusive programme featuring the very best in drama, dance, musical theatre, live music, comedy and pantomime as well as supporting access to the arts for everyone. To date it 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.
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 