£20k donation boosts trust's hopes of taking on theatre
The trust looking to take over the running of Cannock's Prince of Wales Theatre has been handed an anonymous £20,000 lifeline.
Cannock Chase Theatre Trust treasurer Ben Farbrother described the donation, made by a local business, as 'a game-changer'.
The Church Street theatre, together with the Museum of Cannock Chase, closed at the end of April due to council budget constraints. The closure had been announced in January and prompted a petition signed by around 20,000 people.
The theatre, which had been open for more than 40 years, and was still attracting a number of big name acts each year, together with amateur dramatic productions and tribute performers, had intended to be the focal point of a town centre regeneration thanks to £20 million of government levelling-up funding.
Since its demise, a dedicated trust has been set up to take on the venue's running and it hopes the theatre will be back in use before the end of next year. Fundraising has taken place across the district, including at local fairs and festivals, with a number of events still to come. Its efforts have been boosted by the £20,000 donation, which takes the group to 20 per cent of its target to raise £150,000 by next autumn.
Some £7,000 has also been pledged by national body Theatres Trust. The corporate donation came after employees suggested a worthwhile cause.
Mr Farbrother said this added to the expectations of seeing the venue reopen. He said: "This anonymous £20k donation is a game-changer for our campaign. It shows local businesses believe in what we're doing. The Prince of Wales is worth fighting for.
"Every pound gets us closer to reopening those curtains and securing Cannock's cultural heart."
Cannock Chase MP Josh Newbury is also supporting the campaign. He said: “This donation is a huge win for the Prince of Wales and strengthens the case for the Cannock Chase Theatre Trust to take the venue on and run it by the community, for the community.
“Reopening the theatre will be no small feat, but with the level of support in the surrounding towns and villages, the number of volunteers who have come forward, and the amount which has been raised in just six months, I know it is possible. As the local MP, I will continue to do whatever I can to support the Theatre Trust in Cannock and in Westminster.”
