Exeter Northcott Theatre secures new funding

Exeter Northcott Theatre has announced that The Michael Bishop Foundation has granted £50,000 a year for the next three years in unrestricted funds.

The Michael Bishop Foundation supports a range of organisations across the arts, education and health sectors and was established in 1989 by Lord Glendonbrook.

Exeter Northcott Theatre Chair Lady Studholme said: “We are thrilled - this really is wonderful news.  It is a real endorsement of the progress the Theatre has made during this year. 

"We are committed to matching this annual grant through our own fundraising initiatives within the local community and taking advantage of gift aid.”

A spokesperson for The Michael Bishop Foundation said: “We are delighted to be able to support Exeter Northcott Theatre. The Theatre’s management have articulated a clear and exciting vision for the future of live performance in Exeter and we are very pleased to be able to help them achieve this”.

News of this grant comes at a time when Exeter Northcott Theatre return to producing, marked by next month's Christmas show - a new adaption of Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, in collaboration with the excellent local theatre company Creative Cow. In Spring 2016, artistic & executive director Paul Jepson will direct Harold Pinter’s Betrayal.

The theatre’s profile has been further raised by a documentary, filmed over the course of this year, which was screened on BBC1 and BBC4 as part of the BBC’s On Stage season. (Available to download on BBC iPlayer).