THE FUTURE of a Malvern theatre company which helps disadvantaged people nurture their skills in the arts has been secured after it received a major grant of £87,000 by the Big Lottery Fund.
The directors of Reaction Theatre Makers (RTM) say they are thrilled with the news after working hard to secure the grant for a number of years.
This is the first time in the company’s 12-year history it has received a grant of this scale.
The money will ensure the company continues to expand by attracting more people to its classes and events including a fully inclusive annual theatre festival starting from next October.
It will also mean for the first time the company can pay a project manager, an accountant, an apprentice and other external artists to deliver on its projects. And it will support the company to tour its shows on mental wealth-being around the country with the next production being the Magnetic Diaries by award-winning poet Sarah James scheduled for next summer.
A spokeswoman for RTM said: “This is a massive privilege as well as a big responsibility.
“This fantastic grant will put us in a really strong position moving forward over the next five years and secures the company’s future.
“In previous years funding has been uncertain from one month to the next so this is a fantastic boost.”
The Big Lottery Fund gives financial support to many projects up and down the country.
Since June 2004 it has awarded over £8billion to projects that change the lives of millions of people.
Lyn Cole, Big Lottery Fund, England Grant Making director, said: “I’m really pleased to see that so many projects across the West Midlands will be bringing festive joy to communities, as new funding will enable them to harness talent and strengths and use these to deliver successful projects. At the heart of the organisations receiving funding is their ability to support communities, deliver positive changes and help so many people make a real difference to their lives.”
For more information about the company visit www.reactiontheatremakers.com.
