UK Theatres Small Grants Scheme Recipients

The UK Theatres Small Grants Scheme was a capital fund that ran from 2012 to 2020. Grants up to £5,000 were awarded to 77 theatre building improvement projects across the UK.

In response to the coronavirus crisis, we repurposed this scheme to support theatres to cover the additional costs of reopening after several months’ closure, including making adaptations for increased hygiene and social distancing measures. Please see Theatre Reopening Fund for further details.

With thanks

The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, Judy Craymer MBE and the Charles Michael Holloway Trust supported the UK Theatres Small Grants Scheme. 

Recipients

Round 15 (May 2020)

Acorn, Penzance - £5,000 - window replacement

Hackney Empire, London - £5,000 - water pump upgrade

Montgomery Theatre, Sheffield - £5,000 - urgent roof repairs

Woodshed Theatre, The Story Museum, Oxford - £5,000 - audio induction loop for new theatre space

Alexandra Theatre, Bognor Regis - £3,300 - power upgrade to main theatre space

Find out more.

Round 14 (November 2019)

Accidental Theatre, Belfast - £5,000 - new wheelchair-accessible toilet

Little Theatre, Gateshead - £5,000 - reconfiguration / new rehearsal space

Swindon Dance - £5,000 – new automatic entrance doors

Unity Theatre, Liverpool - £5,000 - urgent roof repairs

Z-arts, Hulme - £5,000 - access and environment upgrade

Find out more.

Round 13 (April 2019)

Lyth Arts Centre - £5,000 - new biomass boiler system

Shoreditch Town Hall - £5,000 - urgent repairs to the northeast tower

The Poly, Falmouth - £5,000 - urgent roof and ceiling repairs

The Theatre Chipping Norton - £5,000 - urgent roof repairs

Theatr Gwaun, Fishguard - £5,000 - repairs to the building render

Lighthouse, Poole - £4,000 - new automatic entrance doors

Find out more.

Round 12 (August 2018)

Alnwick Playhouse - £5,000 - auditorium seating and accessibility improvements

Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre - £5,000 - new entrance door draft barriers

Oswaldtwistle Civic Arts Centre and Theatre - £5,000 - heating system replacement

Plaza Theatre, Romsey - £5,000 - stair lift replacement

Key Theatre, Peterborough - £2,500 - new hearing loop

Find out more.

Round 11 (April 2018)

Burnley Mechanics - £5,000 - new get-in lift

St George’s Theatre, Great Yarmouth - £5,000 - external directional signage upgrade

Studio 1A, Bangor Drama Club - £5,000 - reconfiguration / improved stage size and better link between front and back of house

Tron Theatre, Glasgow - £5,000 - newly accessible box office and bar

Purple Playhouse, Hove - £4,715 - accessible toilet repairs and improvements

Round 10 (August 2017)

Criterion Theatre, Coventry - £5,000 - asbestos removal

Farnham Maltings - £5,000 - existing lift upgrade and new lift installation

Acorn Theatre, Penzance - £5,000 - health and safety improvements

The Bear Pit, Stratford-upon-Avon - £5,000 - stage access improvements and new ventilation system 

Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol - £4,635 - new dimmer room 

Citizens Theatre, Glasgow - £4,320 - work to clear the ceiling void 

Round 9 (February 2017)

Carnegie Theatre and Arts Centre, Workington - £5,000 - new automatic sliding entrance doors

Grand Pavilion, Matlock Bath - £5,000 - roof repairs and new rainwater management system 

Leatherhead Theatre - £5,000 - urgent external building repairs

Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington - £4,462 - urgent external building repairs and lighting upgrade

The Place Theatre, Bedford - £3,335 - stage and backstage access improvements

Round 8 (May 2016)

Friargate Theatre, York - £5,000 - flood prevention measures

Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis - £5,000 - urgent external repairs

Theatre Royal Winchester - £5,000 - urgent external repairs to roof and façade

Tron Theatre, Glasgow - £5,000 - urgent roof repairs

Bridgwater Arts Centre - £2,980 - urgent roof repairs

Round 7 (September 2015)

The Boo, Waterfoot- £5,000 - entrance accessibility 

Pendle Hippodrome, Colne - £5,000 - new roof

Theatre Royal Dumfries - £5,000 - new front and side entrance doors

Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol - £5,000 - reconfiguration / new dressing room

Upfront Arts Theatre, Penrith - £4,000 - reconfiguration / new staircase

Round 6 (January 2015)

Dunoon Burgh Hall - £5,000 - new stage lift for staff and performers

People’s Theatre, Newcastle - £5,000 - asbestos removal

Polka Theatre, London - £5,000 - heating and cooling system upgrade 

Actors Workshop, Halifax - £4,020 - roof and gutter repairs 

Little Angel Theatre, London - £3,700 - roof repairs

Round 5 (July 2014)

Blackpool Grand Theatre - £5,000 - front and side entrance doors repairs

Players Theatre, Thame - £5,000 - stage improvements 

Shanklin Theatre, Isle of Wight - £5,000 - external brickwork repairs 

Theatre Royal, Stratford East - £5,000 - repair and restoration of safety curtain 

Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells - £5,000 - external brickwork repairs

Round 4 (January 2014)

Alnwick Playhouse - £5,000 - urgent roof repairs

Beccles Public Hall and Theatre - £5,000 - stage upgrade and roof repairs

Hoxton Hall, London - £5,000 - restoration of upper balcony 

Tara Arts, London - £5,000 - new fire-proof acoustic doors into performance space 

Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford - £5,000 - new automatic sliding entrance doors

Round 3 (July 2013)

Malt Cross Music Hall, Nottingham - £5,000 - restoration of auditorium

Mill Theatre, Thurso - £5,000 - roof repairs

Playhouse, Preston - £5,000 - roof insulation upgrade

Tom Thumb Theatre, Margate - £4,636 - repairs to the external terrace / balcony

Round 2 (January 2013)

Bush Theatre, London - £5,000 - boiler and heating system upgrade 

Robin Hood Theatre, Newark - £5,000 - new electrics 

Wyeside Arts Centre, Builth Wells - £5,000 - external stonework repairs 

Hackney Empire, London - £4,934 - roof and façade repairs

Citadel Arts Centre, St Helens - £2,500 - external promotional signage box upgrade

Bacup Royal Court - £2,200 - backstage repairs

Round 1 (October 2012)

Liverpool Royal Court - £5,000 - replacement safety curtain

Sleaford Playhouse - £5,000 - roof and window replacement 

Wiltons Music Hall, London - £5,000 - floor repairs to reinstate former orchestra pit 

Soho Theatre, London - £5,000 - new automatic swing entrance door

Oldham Coliseum - £2,500 - accessible box office