Theatre Royal Plymouth campaign to launch outreach programme
While theatre-goers gear up for a jam-packed season of feel-good Christmas shows, the team at TRP are busy behind the scenes with their fundraising programme for community projects, including the launch of Young Company – Our Space.
Organisers explain it’ll be an extension of a current programme and aims to support children facing extreme challenges.
The programme will provide weekly term-time sessions for 15 participants – increasing to 40 children during school holidays.
The goal is to allow them to explore creativity, develop new skills, build relationships and express themselves through drama.
The current Our Space programme works with adults experiencing multiple disadvantages including homelessness, mental health issues, addiction, reoffending or social isolation.
The team explain they use drama as a tool to ‘increase confidence whilst learning theatre skills in a fun and supportive environment.’
By offering bursaries, the new scheme will eliminate financial barriers for young people experiencing the most disadvantage in the region.
To help bolster up the coffers for the scheme, Theatre Royal Plymouth recently took part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge which saw all donations become doubled at the start of month. Match funding saw 100 donations raise an incredible £12,400
‘It means we can make twice as much impact’
‘We’re really excited to be taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge for the first time,’ says Lucy Howe, Director of Partnerships and Philanthropy at Theatre Royal Plymouth.
‘For our supporters, there really is no better time to ensure our work with children in the South West facing the most disadvantage can continue.’
‘With all donations doubled, it means we can make twice as much impact in developing long-lasting creative lifelines.’
Theatre Royal Plymouth is also running its annual Festive Appeal which supports all of TRP’s children and young people programmes. People can donate via TRP’s website or when buying a ticket. There are also donation points in the theatre.
Last year’s appeal raised an incredible £23,900. The money helped to support this year’s projects – each with a different goal of developing core life skills and supporting mental health.
The theatre is aiming to raise £30,000 this festive period to secure its programmes working with children and young people for 2026.
