Incredible £395,000 lifeline for Harrogate Theatre

The theatre's chief executive David Bown said they were "incredibly relieved and grateful" for the substantial award from Arts Council England's Covid-19 fund but said the money would only take this much-loved arts hub through to September.

Mr Bown said: "We're chuffed on quite a few levels and relieved in so many more.

"What an incredible week it's been. My phone at home when berserk with people congratulating us when word got out.

"We are very grateful to the Arts Council. We've received the sort of award that bigger theatres in cities have got.

"It's a tribute to all our hard work and success and a real statement from the Arts Council of how important it thinks Harrogate Theatre is and recognition of our vital importance to the Harrogate district's economy."

The theatre has been working on its bid for emergency relief from Arts Council England for weeks, well before the Government's announcement this week of its £1.57 billion rescue package for the nation's arts and culture sector.

But Mr Bown said the theatre has been losing so much money since it had to cancel or postpone all its shows for lockdown that it was still vital that the "fantastic generosity" of Harrogate people continued towards its own Emergency Appeal.

He said: "The award is amazing but it's stil only a drop in the ocean compared to the money we lost when we closed even though we have staff furloughed.

"Until this point, it's only been the fantastic generosity of Harrogate towards the theatre that has kept us from closing down.

"The Arts Council grant will only keep us going until September and we still desperately need everyone's support."

In terms of Harrogate Theatre's financial survival - even after the Arts Council's award - it's all down to panto.

Will the Government budge on reopening theatres in time for the festive season when most regional venues rely on the success of Cinderella or Jack and the Beanstalk?

How to support Harrogate Theatre

Donate to the Emergency Appeal via www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk;

Join Harrogate Theatre’s membership scheme;

Buy tickets for future shows - or don’t claim a refund on tickets for cancelled shows.

Harrogate enjoys busiest day in months as lockdown restrictions eased

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.