Christmas collection organised to help maintain Birmingham theatre.
The Old Rep Theatre is part of a national initiative launched by Theatres Trust to help raise funds via a virtual bucket shake this festive season.
They are calling on the help if the public more than ever in order to maintain this historic and beloved theatre and hope that #VirtualBucketShake will help raise the money necessary to continue a programme for much needed improvements of this 
This year due to the global pandemic, the theatre has been unable to open and will be closed to public performances until 2021. This means a loss of income from ticket sales, merchandise and bars, as well as missing out on the opportunity for a traditional bucket collection, hence the need for a Virtual Bucket Collection this festive season.
Donations will be used for the upkeep and restoration of stage, lighting, sound equipment and auditorium.
Michael Penn, Executive Director of The Old Rep said “Each year at our Christmas shows we tend to shake a bucket to gain useful funds to make improvements to the Old Rep Theatre. This year with no Christmas show we are shaking a virtual bucket. We appreciate this year is difficult for a lot of people in terms of income but every bit raised will be used for improvements within the theatre. Merry Christmas from all at The Old Rep”
Gary Stevens, General Manager and Operations Director said “At this time of the year normally The Old Rep Theatre would be packed with laughter and fun as hundreds of families would descend into the theatre for what has now become the traditional ‘Christmas Show’. Sadly, due to local control measures, the doors remain closed. Vital income from refreshments and merchandise sales have been completely wiped out and the theatre is calling on the nation to support them with a Virtual Reality Bucket Collection.
“Our ambitious aim is to try and reach £50,000 which will go towards the upkeep and maintenance of the stage lighting, sound and auditorium. The Old Rep has been part of the local community for well over hundred years and if every person in Birmingham alone just donated £1 this would well exceed the total required and help restore this historic venue. We appreciate things have been tough on everyone this year and our plea comes at a time when incomes are challenged, however every pound you donate, you can be assured will be going towards this much-loved theatre.”
You can donate via crowdfunder.