The New Theatre Royal (NTR) has received a grant of £939,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), in support of regeneration and development plans for the back-lot of the Theatre, in collaboration with the University.
Professor John Craven, Vice-Chancellor said: ‘I am delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has recognised the importance of restoring the New Theatre Royal as a major historic building, and also its future role in the cultural and educational life of the City of Portsmouth. The University is proud to be a partner in this project.
The receipt of this grant is a fantastic public endorsement for the NTR project and represents a significant proportion of the money needed to be raised by the Theatre. The award from HLF will ensure that this forty-year project, began after the fire in 1972 by a group of tireless and passionate local volunteers, will at last come to fruition, with the volunteers seeing their long-held ambition fulfilled.’
Director of the NTR, Caroline Sharman said: ‘This is great news for us and I hope for the people of Portsmouth who have worked so tirelessly over the last 40 years to keep this beautiful theatre alive.’
The funding has been granted specifically for the repair and restoration of the Grade II listed historic building, including restoration of the stage house, orchestra pit, offices, access facilities, and a new Creative Learning Centre, for use by local groups and organisations and dedicated to the memory of Academy Award-winning writer and director Anthony Minghella.
More information can be found at www.newtheatreroyal.com.
