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Royal & Derngate have launched a major fundraising campaign to support the refurbishment of the theatre’s Derngate auditorium. Having been awarded a substantial grant towards the project from Arts Council England’s Creative Foundations Fund, the Northampton venue needs to raise an additional £100K as part of its local contribution to the project.

As announced in April, the ACE grant award of £538,000 is for the renewal of the seating, flooring and audio enhancement system in the Derngate auditorium. With work on the refurbishment due to take place in August 2027, the theatre is starting a yearlong campaign to raise the additional funds needed to complete the project.

Chris Evans is Marketing, Sales and Development Director at Royal and Derngate. He spoke to Steven Gordon-Wilson on Showtime:

Over the years, millions of audience members have taken their seats at Derngate, creating memories that have stayed with them long after the curtain fell. The years of use have taken their toll on the fabric of the auditorium, and, with the support of audiences, the local community and businesses, the refurbishment project will create a more comfortable, welcoming and inclusive experience for many years to come.

Customers can make a donation to the seat refurbishment appeal when purchasing their tickets, and people can also give directly to the campaign via the theatre’s website at www.royalandderngate.co.uk/individual-giving/derngate-second-act. From September there will also be a contactless donation point in the foyer, alongside a display showing a sample of the new seating.

Businesses who are interested in supporting the refurbishment appeal through donations or by sponsorship can find out more about the opportunities available by emailing the theatre’s Development team on development@royalandderngate.co.uk.