The Survival Fundraising Appeal of Play to the Crowd – the arts and education charity which runs Theatre Royal Winchester, Hat Fair and Playmakers – has received a boost from of Winchester Musicals and Operatic Society (WMOS) with a £5,000 contribution to the campaign.
Suzanne Hall, Chair of WMOS said: “Winchester Musical Opera Society have performed each year at Theatre Royal Winchester since 1984. Since then, the society has worked with the theatre to bring song, dance and laughter to Winchester audiences, even making it rain on stage for our 2018 production of Singin’ on the Rain. WMOS wishes to support the theatre during this crisis, not only so we can be on stage again as soon as it is safe to do so, but so that this wonderful charity can keep on doing the incredible work it does for the Winchester community”
Play to the Crowd launched its Survival Appeal in July – the charity needs to raise £225,000 by September to survive beyond the Covid crisis. To date the charity has raised well over £150,000 in their fundraising efforts.
Deryck Newland, Chief Executive, said “We’re delighted to receive this extremely generous contribution to our Survival Appeal from the Winchester Musicals and Operatic Society. Community is at the very core of our purpose as a charity. We exist to delight and unite by inspiring people to connect with and participate in live performance and our relationship with WMOS epitomises our beliefs. To be supported by our community in our hour of need is extremely humbling. Our thanks go to WMOS in helping us edge that step closer to our target. We can’t wait to welcome them back on to our historic stage in the future and will raise a glass to them when eventually the curtain rises again! Cheers WMOS!”
- Donations to Play to the Crowd’s Survival Appeal can be made via its Crowdfunder page www.crowdfunder.co.uk/playtothecrowd, via cheque (made payable to Play to the Crowd) and sent to Theatre Royal Winchester, Jewry Street, SO23 8SB or call Theatre Royal Winchester’s Box Office on 01962 840 440. For further information contact Kirstie Mathieson, Marketing and Communications Director on kirstie@playtothecrowd.co.uk.
- In order to help raise funds the theatre’s Cafe Bar has reopened, opening Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 3pm. An outdoor seating area has been created on Tower Street and Covid secure measures have been put in place.
- Picture shows Suzanne Hall and Molly Moffitt from WMOS with Dercyk Newland