The Bristol Improv Theatre launches urgent fundraising campaign to secure future

The Bristol Improv Theatre have announced that they are under threat of closure within the next three months and have launched a fundraising campaign - ‘Save the Bristol Improv Theatre’ - with the goal of raising £20,000. 

This campaign will ensure they can keep their doors open, transition to a sustainable business model and continue to empower, educate and entertain Bristol audiences through the art of improv. They are promoting three key ways for people to support them: donate to the campaign; buy tickets for their events; and tell others about their work.

The Bristol Improv Theatre recently became a registered charity and they are hopeful that their ‘Save the Bristol Improv Theatre’ campaign will provide them with the necessary funds to survive the immediate future and carry out their charitable mission in the long-term, ‘to advance the arts for the public benefit, through the promotion of improvisational theatre.' 

In the face of an extremely challenging economic landscape, exacerbated by the ongoing cost of living crisis, the Bristol Improv Theatre has faced a perfect storm of increased running costs alongside a reduction in audience spend. The theatre receives no regular public funding and relies solely on the revenue made from ticket sales, venue hire, and bar sales at shows. 

Image: The Unscripted Players at Bristol Improv Theatre, credit Lee Pullen Photography

The closure of this Bristol grassroots venue, the UK’s first full time dedicated Improv Theatre, would be a devastating loss for Bristol’s Arts scene. Their work brings connection, creativity and joy to people across Bristol and beyond. Not only does the theatre provide an exciting array of alternative theatre shows and high-quality improv training, but a strong sense of community is at the heart of everything the organisation does. 

Through the promotion of improv, the theatre helps increase confidence and well-being of its audiences and students as well as helping them find connection. Through their Theatre School, they provide a safe and supportive space for adults to explore their creative identities, which has been described as ‘transformative’ and ‘life-changing’ by many of their students.

Image: Up the Antics at The Bristol Improv Theatre's Mini Improv Festival

If they are successful in securing the £20,000 needed to keep their doors open, their long term plans include making their building’s public spaces fully accessible, expanding their community work across Bristol and becoming a hub for developing new improvised theatre performances. But their first step is to fundraise and restructure to keep the organisation running in a way that is financially stable.

Kierann Shah, Artistic Director of the Bristol Improv Theatre said: “However people choose to support us, it really does make a difference. The more people that come to our shows and classes, donate, or tell their friends, the better chance the theatre has of not just surviving, but achieving our vision as a charity. This is a time when people need joy, creativity, laughter and connection more than ever, and we truly want to continue bringing those benefits to people.”

Image: The Bristol Improv Theatre logo 

The ‘Save the Bristol Improv Theatre’ campaign will be running from now until late September. The theatre is hosting a charity fundraiser event on Friday 26 July 2024 as part of their Improv Appreciation weekend. As part of the ‘Save the Bristol Improv Theatre’ campaign, the organisation is promoting three key ways that people can support their work. These are:

• Donate to the campaign - any donations, however big or small, will help reach their fundraising goal and help secure the Improv Theatre’s future - enabling them to continue to offer inclusive, welcoming and entertaining shows and classes. You can donate directly via the theatre’s website. Due to their new charity status, donations are also now eligible for Gift Aid, allowing the theatre to reclaim extra money in tax on donations. 
• Buy Tickets - Every ticket sale contributes towards the safeguarding of the theatre’s future, enabling them to continue providing high quality entertainment and teaching for years to come. Book via improvtheatre.co.uk.
• Tell a friend - A large amount of people find out about the theatre through word-of-mouth, so please tell your friends about Bristol Improv Theatre. Or alternatively, leave a review on Google or TripAdvisor.

For more information about the campaign and how to donate, head to the ‘Save the Bristol Improv Theatre’ campaign homepage.