Theatr Clwyd in Mold has much to celebrate after being awarded £1.6m in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget today.
The popular theatre, which attracts 200,000 visitors a year from North Wales and beyond, is currently undergoing major redevelopment work.
The redevelopment will cost £49m, and up until today’s announcement there was a funding shortfall of £2m, which even with further value engineering required a minimum of £1.6m additional funding.
On February 22nd, Vale of Clwyd MP, Dr James Davies, who is the Conservative Candidate for the new Clwyd East constituency, which includes Mold, hosted a reception on behalf of Theatr Clwyd in the House of Commons to highlight to MPs and Peers the hugely important impact the theatre has on its audiences, and to inform them of the current major redevelopment works taking place.
The event was also attended by the Arts Minister, the Rt Hon Lord Stephen Parkinson, who spent time with Liam Evans-Ford, Executive Director and joint CEO at Theatr Clwyd, discussing the works and the funding shortfall.
Commenting today, following the news that the theatre is to receive the much needed £1.6m from the UK Government, James said:
“This is absolutely fantastic news for Theatr Clwyd and everyone who uses it.
“The theatre is a very well known and successful facility in Mold and has been open since the 1970s.
“In 2010 it was deemed to be nearing the end of its life, but the redevelopment will enable it to continue to make and deliver world class productions and be a cultural beacon for the local area.
“Those at the theatre have worked incredibly hard over recent years to secure £47 million towards the costs of the redevelopment, so I am absolutely thrilled that they are now set to receive the required £1.6m from the UK Government.
“I was very pleased to host their reception at the House of Commons where they were able to showcase all that they do, and I was very grateful to the Arts Minister, the Rt Hon Lord Parkinson of Whitely Bay, for saying a few words at the reception on the important impact of Theatr Clwyd in North Wales and North West England, nationally and internationally.
“I very much look forward to seeing the completed redevelopment of this much loved theatre.”
Liam Evans-Ford, executive director and joint CEO at Theatr Clwyd said:
"Theatr Clwyd is grateful for the £1.6m from the UK Government for our major building redevelopment. Alongside the key investment from Welsh Government, Arts Council Wales and Flintshire County Council, and our significant private fundraising from both Trusts & Foundations and individual philanthropy, this investment is a significant closing step in completing this vital project. The redevelopment will ensure that Theatr Clwyd is a green, sustainable, world-class home for our communities, theatre-makers and future generations in North Wales and the north west of England – it will deliver increased economic and social value and maintain our crucial role in the cultural sector both in Wales and across the UK."
Speaking at the event, Lord Parkinson said:
“I’ve been learning about the hugely important impact Theatr Clwyd has in the local communities in Wales, but also for audiences across the border in England as well and what a launchpad it is for so many careers.
“There’s so many brilliant shows that tour around the UK, telling really important stories and new writing, creating jobs, because there are a variety of jobs that go into putting this together. Not just the ones we see on the stage, but all the jobs that are backstage, from building, accountancy to IT, to prop making, to costumes, to so much more. Part of the booming creative industries and the arts we have right across the UK, which the Government is really keen to support; one of the Chancellor’s five priority areas for the economy.
“It has been brilliant to hear today about what Theatr Clwyd is doing to help turbo-charge that.”
On completion of the redeveloped building, annual revenue will increase to £10m with a minimum of an additional 60 permanent jobs created.
To access James's Theatr Clwyd campaign page, click on the following link: https://www.jamesdavies.org.uk/campaigns/theatr-clwyd-redevelopment
