Theatre Royal Bath to receive two funding awards as third round of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund announced

Theatre Royal Bath has been awarded a grant of £423,499 by the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) Continuity Support Grant.

As announced on 19th November by Nadine Dorries, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Theatre Royal Bath is among 925 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the Culture Recovery Fund. The third round of funding is supporting organisations from all corners of the sector as they deal with ongoing challenges, ensuring they can thrive in better times ahead.

In addition, Theatre Royal Bath is one of just eleven arts organisations in England to secure an award from the CRF’s Sustainability Funding Scheme. This grant, totalling £389,868 for work up to March 2023, is being targeted to identify and support new business operations to ensure a sustainable future for CRF-funded organisations. The fund also supports organisations to improve diversity and inclusion, progress toward ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and increase education and outreach.

Since theatres shut nationwide in March 2020 Arts Council England funding has ensured that Bath’s Theatre Royal could re-open to audiences, initially in October and December 2020 when restrictions allowed. The Theatre Royal Bath re-opened again in May 2021 after the third national lockdown. Since then it has presented a full and continuous programme of shows in the Main House and a host of productions at the Ustinov Studio and The Egg. As well as providing a creative learning programme in-person and online, the Theatre Royal has resumed touring productions across the UK and transferring shows to the West End. In recent months, Theatre Royal Bath Productions has staged West End transfers of Oleanna and Blithe Spirit and is currently co-producing Four Quartets, all of which first opened in Bath. Meanwhile the Theatre Royal’s production company continues to tour shows this autumn, including co-productions of Private Lives, Blue/Orange and Josephine which are playing at theatres nationwide now.

Theatre Royal Bath Director, Danny Moar, said: “Theatre Royal Bath is delighted to receive further Arts Council Support as we continue our growth and recovery following a time of unparalleled difficulty for arts organisations during the pandemic. Since theatres were allowed to reopen in May, we have been thrilled to welcome audiences to over 300 performances across all three of our auditoria here at the Theatre Royal. Between May and December this year, we have mounted eight national tours serving theatres throughout the country, as well as staging three West End transfers as part of our contribution to the reopening of the theatre industry nationwide. With a busy Christmas season ahead and a full spring season announced, we continue to work on a host of exciting plans for 2022, including at least five theatre productions already confirmed which will tour to theatres across the UK after opening in Bath.”

Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries said: “Culture is for everyone and should therefore be accessible to everyone, no matter who they are and where they’re from. Through unprecedented government financial support, the Culture Recovery Fund is supporting arts and cultural organisations so they can continue to bring culture to communities the length and breadth of the country, supporting jobs, boosting local economies and inspiring people.” 

Over £1.2 billion has already been awarded from the Culture Recovery Fund, supporting around 5000 individual organisations and sites across the country ranging from local museums to West End theatres, grassroots music venues to festivals, and organisations in the cultural and heritage supply-chains. 

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said: “This continued investment from the Government on an unprecedented scale means our theatres, galleries, music venues, museums and arts centres can carry on playing their part in bringing visitors back to our high streets, helping to drive economic growth, boosting community pride and promoting good health. It’s a massive vote of confidence in the role our cultural organisations play in helping us all to lead happier lives”.