THE UK government today announced in the Spring Budget that the National Theatre will receive flagship investment of £26.4m marking its 60th anniversary, which will support urgent infrastructure updates to the National Theatre building.
This government investment, the largest in the National Theatre’s history, will strengthen the organisation and support the UK’s globally renowned theatre-makers by providing essential, urgent upgrades to facilities and boosting specialist skills nationwide through the National Theatre Skills Centre.
Propelled by this investment, the National Theatre today launches a £125m fundraising campaign Stories Start Here.
The campaign, the most ambitious in its history, will raise revenue and capital funds to ensure the National Theatre, which serves 17.5 million people a year, is thriving and vital, sparking imagination, nurturing talent and inspiring the world for generations to come.
The government’s commitment of £26.4m joins £35m of private sector philanthropy raised from NT supporters to kickstart the campaign, demonstrating how private and public funders can work hand in hand to deliver transformative results.
The government investment is targeted at delivering urgent capital upgrades at the National Theatre, which will ensure millions of people will continue to enjoy innovative, ambitious world premiere productions made on the South Bank, which are then shared with the world.
The National Theatre’s learning activity is delivered in every Local Authority in the UK, with 1 in 4 secondary school children watching productions on the NT Collection for free.
The upgraded National Theatre facilities will also support a strong pipeline of future creative talent with specialist skills. To date 90% of apprentices trained at the NT have gone on to be employed in the sector.
Nearly 50 years since it first opened in 1976, the National Theatre’s South Bank building requires urgent capital works to ensure it can remain open and operational.
The investment will replace failing end-of-life theatre systems, support necessary repairs to the Olivier theatre scenery lift, which is vital to the operation of the theatre, as well as developing innovative solutions for the refurbishment of the Olivier theatre’s unique stage drum revolve system.
The investment also supports the creation of a pioneering National Theatre Skills Centre which will provide engagement, skills development, career support and training opportunities nationwide across a breadth of specialisms for over 5,000 people each year, inspiring future artists, craftspeople and technicians.
This funding will allow the National Theatre’s team of in-house creative experts the time and resource to prioritise training rather than undertaking repairs; and offer a world-class environment in which to train the next generation.
Chair of the National Theatre Sir Damon Buffini said: “The National Theatre is a beacon of creative excellence, reaching millions of people globally each year and inspiring thousands of future theatre makers through our nationwide activity.
Building upon the pioneering £1.6bn Culture Recovery Fund and the essential Theatre Tax Relief for the sector, this vital investment from the UK government will leverage further philanthropy as part of our multi-year fundraising campaign. Together, we will build a long-term future for our National Theatre.’
Director of the National Theatre Rufus Norris and Executive Director Kate Varah said: “The National Theatre is a creative powerhouse that attracts the world’s most exciting theatre makers.
“We are immensely grateful to the government for this landmark investment, marking our 60th anniversary, which will support much needed upgrades to our infrastructure and enable artists to produce unforgettable experiences shared with millions of people worldwide every year.
“Along with the commitment to the new permanent higher rates of Theatre Tax Relief, this is a huge boost to the future vitality of British theatre.
“The National Theatre is the biggest factory in central London, and we are so lucky to have such incredibly talented creative experts working alongside and training the next generation to ensure that the whole sector can continue to thrive for many years to come.”
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