Cambridge Audiences Raise Over £16,000 for Local Charities

Pantomime audiences for Cambridge Arts Theatre's traditional festive offering, Dick Whittington, have raised an incredible £16,417 for a number of local charitable causes. The money was raised through bucket collections taken after every performance in the show's 5 week run across December and January.

The charities that benefitted from the theatregoing audiences' generosity were: Addenbrooke's C2 Ward, Cambridge Joint Playschemes, Tom's Trust, Stars, Maggie's Wallace, and the Theatre's own Panto Wheels scheme, which enables disadvantaged school children to experience a trip to the pantomime.

Dave Murphy, the Theatre's Chief Executive, said, "The Arts Theatre is an independent theatrical charity with deep roots in the Cambridge community, and every year we select a number of local charities to support through our panto bucket collections. We are all thrilled and humbled by the generosity of our audiences over the festive season and are delighted that so many local causes will benefit from the fundraising efforts."

Debs Whiteley, speaking on behalf of Tom's Trust, said, "We were thrilled to have been chosen as one of the beneficiaries from the panto collections this year. As a local charity the support from local organisations such as the Arts Theatre and all the audiences means so much to us. The money raised will ensure that children with brain tumours are helped to reach their full potential by our clinical psychologists. Thank you to all that donated and to the panto cast, crew and staff at the theatre for helping us to spread the word about what we are doing.'

Dick Whittington was produced by Cambridge Arts Theatre and supported by Cambridge News and Media. It welcomed family and schools' audiences of over 27,000 between 1 December and 8 January from Cambridge and the surrounding region.

Photo credit: Richard Hubert