Arts Council England Announce Four Year Funding for Exeter Northcott Theatre

Arts Council England has recognised the invigorating work and vision of the Exeter Northcott Theatre and has awarded £125,000 a year over the period of the National Portfolio Programme for 2018 - 2022. This good news comes at a time when the Theatre is thriving, with 86 shows on offer this year, and audience numbers increased to over 92,000 in the last year. The national touring co-production of E Nesbit's The Railway Children opens in Newcastle this week and we have a vibrant autumn season now on sale, which includes People, Places & Things, a co-production with Headlong, the National Theatre and HOME.

The Arts Council's recognition of the imaginative approach taken by the team at the Theatre is a welcome vote of confidence and we are looking forward to working with our key stakeholders and audiences to continue to build on our exciting programme. We are committed to nurturing experience, training and skills and to working collaboratively. Arts Council England's investment is a confident endorsement of our work together and is testament to the high regard in which the Theatre is held, particularly given the financially challenging times we live in.

ACE funding will support us to continue providing the high quality inspiration and entertainment enjoyed by Exeter Northcott Theatre's ever increasing and diversifying audience.

Chair, Lucy, Lady Studholme said:

"This is a happy day, and one that brings just reward and recognition for the entire team at the Exeter Northcott Theatre. With its loyal volunteers, and committed staff, the Theatre has successfully responded to the seismic changes and challenges that the performance world - particularly out of London - are facing, and along with the support and will of the main stakeholders, the University of Exeter and Exeter County Council, Arts Council England has invested in the future of theatre for Exeter.

Alongside this funding, the Northcott continues to grow and nurture local support from its increasing audiences and visionary philanthropists who understand how vital a live and learning performance hub is for the cultural health of Exeter and the Region. Working with colleagues across the City, the Exeter Northcott is delivering high quality wonderful, stimulating, entertaining - and sometimes challenging - performances to our growing audiences as well as nurturing talent and skills across all aspects of live performance for the future.

Under the leadership of Paul Jepson, the entire Northcott Theatre staff have worked extremely hard to achieve great things within a challenging budget, and in a climate of real threat to regional theatre. The recent programme has included top national touring productions such as The Play That Goes Wrong, La Strada and Death of a Salesman, as well as our own produced and co-produced work such as Betrayal and The Railway Children.

Hats off to Executive and Artistic Director Paul Jepson and his hard-working team of staff and volunteers. A big thank you to Arts Council England, and here's to the Exeter Northcott Theatre and the future of live performance for Exeter."

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