Local Theatre Touring Alliance puts smaller theatres in the spotlight
- Alan Hulme
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
Blackpool Grand and the Theatre Royal, Wakefield, are putting the future of theatre in the spotlight with the launch of the Local Theatre Touring Alliance (LTTA), a new collaboration to strengthen the future of theatres in towns and smaller cities across the UK.
The alliance brings together theatres, producers, policymakers and funders to respond to mounting pressures on local venues - including rising costs, skills shortages, ageing infrastructure and a shrinking pool of high-quality touring productions.
At the heart of LTTA’s first phase is a national survey of venue managers with the aim of building a clear picture of the sector's needs and to identify practical solutions.
Blackpool Grand chief executive, Adam Knight, said: "Theatres like ours are vital parts of their communities, yet too often they are overlooked in national conversations.
"The Local Theatre Touring Alliance is about bringing people together to protect and strengthen local theatre for future
generations. Listening to venue managers, who know these challenges first-hand, is a crucial starting point."
Katie Town, executive director at Theatre Royal, Wakefield, added: "Mid-scale venues are facing unprecedented challenges, but there is huge potential if we work collaboratively.
"The survey is a critical first step in gathering the honest insights we need to develop new touring models andstrategies that work for our towns and smaller cities."
There is no cost to sign up to the Alliance. Venues, producers, policymakers, funders and sector organisations can register as supporters. Venue managers from all towns and smaller cities are being encouraged to participate in the survey.
Find out more here