Funding will help increase accessibility at iconic theatre.
The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham has received an award of £9,942 from the National Lottery Community Fund to increase accessibility at the venue. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players and the generous support of the Community Fund, The Old Rep Theatre will be able to install handrails on every row of its auditorium, greatly increasing the venue’s accessibility, especially for the elderly and those with mobility issues.
Michael Penn, Executive Director of the Old Rep Theatre said, “It is great that this will make our beautiful old theatre even more accessible to audiences, so they can share in our amazing programme of shows and events.”
The handrails are being built specifically to fit The Old Rep’s seats, and will be installed over Summer 2019, expected to be in full use by the time the theatre opens its doors for its busy Autumn season.
Founded in 1913, The Old Rep has operated continuously for 106 years, as a training ground for young theatre practitioners over the years from Sir Laurence Olivier to Brian Cox. Since 2014, it has been operated by Birmingham Ormiston Academy, a specialist performing, digital and creative arts academy for young people aged 14-19, and presents a wide variety of programming for all audiences, from new musicals and dramas to comedy, music and workshops for young people.
