Member Article

Free tickets at Newcastle theatres

Three of Newcastle upon Tyne’s principal theatres will be offering free theatre tickets to young people as part of a drive to reach new audiences.

Live Theatre, Northern Stage and the Theatre Royal have been offered funding for the next two years as a part of Arts Council England’s national scheme, the Free Theatre Initiative.

Newcastle’s Free Theatre Initiative will see up to 4,000 free theatre tickets made available over the next two years across all three theatres to people under 26, in order to reach new audiences and develop a new generation of theatregoers.

The tickets will be made available to those who, for a variety of social and economic reasons, rarely, if ever, visit the theatre.

Philip Bernays, Chief Executive of the Theatre Royal said: “The Free Theatre Initiative will give non-traditional theatregoers the means to experience and enjoy a theatre performance free of charge.

“The £30,000 Arts Council England grant awarded to Live Theatre, Northern Stage and the Theatre Royal will be used to engage with young people from Newcastle and beyond, and help to overcome the barriers which prevent these people from visiting the theatre.”

Alison Clark-Jenkins, Director, Arts and Development, Arts Council England, North East said: “We are delighted that such a range of venues have successfully applied to be part of free theatre in the North East. This means that thousands of young people across the region will find it even easier to get to see great theatre - from locally produced work to West End tours to the best in international contemporary drama. We hope that the scheme will develop a habit for live performance that will last a lifetime.”

More information about the Free Theatre Initiative will be made available on each theatre’s website in February 2009.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .