Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Celebrates Funding Success

Published on: 6 Apr, 2021
Updated on: 10 Apr, 2021

The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre has been awarded a grant of £458,000 from the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

The grants, distributed by Arts Council England are to support cultural organisations as they transition back to a viable and sustainable operating model from April to June 2021.

The ghost light that has been maintaining the faith on the stage at the Yvonne Arnaud

The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, like other theatres in the country, went dark on 16 March 2020. The theatre reopened wherever possible throughout summer and autumn 2020 with a number of socially-distanced shows and events, both indoors and in the garden.

Last year’s Christmas production of The Snow Queen, which replaced the annual much-loved family pantomime, was cut short due to the imposition of Tier-3 restrictions and the theatre has been closed since.

Joanna Read

Now the Yvonne Arnaud team is working hard behind the scenes to reopen with a jam-packed programme throughout the summer and beyond. The season will begin with the theatre’s own production, Siobhan Bassett’s Hound of the Baskervilles, a new comedy by Sara Crowe, from 3 June.

Director Joanna Read said: “We are relieved to have this additional support from the Cultural Recovery Fund to help us reopen and bring live theatre back to Guildford.

“The coming year will continue to be a challenge for the theatre as we rebuild operations and we are very appreciative of those audience members who have stayed with us during this time for their support. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in June with our production of The Hound of the Baskervilles.”

Ms Read was joined in her thanks to the Cultural Recovery Fund by theatre Patron, Dame Penelope Keith, who said: ‘This is brilliant news. Bravo everybody at the Yvonne Arnaud, and thank you very much to the Arts Council.’

Penelope Keith at the theatre’s 54th birthday celebration in 2019

Chair of the Yvonne Arnaud Trustees, Stephen Bampfylde commented: “This critical support demonstrates confidence in the theatre’s vision and recognises our significant contribution to the cultural and economic success of Surrey and Guildford.”

The Yvonne Arnaud’s summer season will see the theatre welcoming audiences with classic drama, such as A Splinter of Ice (15 – 19 June) and The Woman in Black (12 – 17 July), alongside the return of popular folk duo Jacob & Drinkwater (20 June).

A theatre spokesperson said: “Shows are being announced frequently, so find out more or sign up to receive emails at www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk, or follow the theatre’s social media channels to keep up with news.”