£250,000 lifeline announced for Doncaster theatre

Doncaster’s Cast theatre is set for a Government bailout worth nearly £250,000.
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And the Higher Rhythm Recording Studio in the town centre will also get support under money announced through the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

Cast, the borough’s main theatre at Waterdale, will receive £249,670 it was confirmed today.

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Dan Fell, chairman of the trustees at the theatre, said the cash was vital to the venue, which has seen its revenue streams devastated by the coronavirus.

Cast Theatre at Sir Nigel Gresley SquareCast Theatre at Sir Nigel Gresley Square
Cast Theatre at Sir Nigel Gresley Square

He said: “It’s absolutely vital for the theatre and I think it is really important for the borough because of what Cast has started in terms of catalysing developments in that area, in raising the profile of arts and culture.

"We need that to be vibrant and this gives us a spring board into the future in what are difficult times.”

Cast closed its doors to the Doncaster public in March following the coronavirus lockdown, with the majority of events in 2020 cancelled or rescheduled to a later date.

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Bosses say the money will contribute to the organisation’s continuing survival by providing desperately needed support and will enable a reduced programme to start up before Christmas. The fund will provide support to Cast for the period October 2020 until March 2021.

Director for Cast Deborah Rees said today: “We are incredibly pleased to receive this support at such an uncertain time for arts venues.”

She added: “This fund will allow Cast to continue to offer a programme of cultural events in Doncaster, employ our small core team, and to do everything necessary that will allow the theatre to retain its local, regional and national artistic partnerships.”

Despite being unable to open for live performances, Cast has continued to work with local community groups and artists through digital projects, as well as providing arts activities for children and young people throughout the summer holidays.

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Tickets for Cast’s reduced season of events during the autumn are on sale now.

Higher Rhythm, which runs a community recording student at Highfield Road, on the edge of the town centre, will receive £51,784 to keep it running.

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