Cash boost for Falkirk Town Hall will be 'vital lifeline'

The money was given to Falkirk Community Trust after it applied to the Scottish Government’s Performing Arts Venues – designed to support performing arts venues that cannot yet re-open due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many popular, sold out shows have been cancelled since the 580-seat venue was forced to close its doors in March.

In June, the Trust also took the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 pantomime, ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

With FTH Theatre remaining closed and with no date yet set for reopening this is a vital lifeline, say community trust bosses.

Lesley O’Hare, culture and libraries manager, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received this funding, which comes at a vital time as ongoing restrictions mean we are still unable to fully reopen the theatre.

“We will use the funding to find new ways of animating the physical space as well as further developing online engagement to ensure continued connectivity with both audiences and the theatre sector.

“We plan to work with theatre companies and makers to provide residency/rehearsal space for them to develop new work and test ideas and concepts with local audiences.”

Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “Despite the ongoing, detrimental impact that the Covid-19 pandemic is having on Scotland’s performing arts venues, and on culture as a whole, it is positive that we can offer somefunding to help venues navigate these extremely challenging times.

“I’m also encouraged to see that this funding will help venues across many different parts of Scotland where they form such an important part of the cultural life of local communities.”

Falkirk Town Hall is amongst 59 venues across Scotland sharing a total of £4.74 million from the relief fund, distributed by Creative Scotland.

The Trust has promised that the money will be used to:• re-connect with audiences through imaginative and engaging approaches over the coming months whilst the Trust remains unable to present live theatre performances;• assist in maintaining the venue’s financial viability and provide opportunities for programming, technical and front of house staff to continue to be supporting creative production;• establish and implement operating procedures for re-opening FTH Theatre when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

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