Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds lights up red in global day of action to support live events industry

paul.derrick@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Published: 09:48, 01 October 2020

| Updated: 09:49, 01 October 2020

A Suffolk theatre was among thousands of venues across the globe to light up red yesterday to highlight the financial crisis facing the live events industry due to coronavirus.

Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds participated in the #LightItInRed initiative, which is calling for significant financial support for the people and companies in the sector until they can return to work.

It was among 2,300 buildings worldwide to join the campaign organised by #WeMakeEvents.

Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds was illuminated red to highlight the financial crisis facing the performing arts industry. Picture by Paul Derrick

The Theatre Royal, in Westgate Street, has been closed since March, has postponed its annual pantomime and is not expected to reopen before next spring.

A spokesman said the furlough scheme has allowed the theatre to pay all contracted and casual staff for the seven months to the end of October and ‘retain the majority of contracted staff from November onwards’.

It has applied to the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund which offers financial support for cultural organisations financially stable before Covid-19 but now at risk of failure.

The venue expects to hear the outcome of its application soon.

Its reopening appeal has also raised more than £72,000.

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