Judy Craymer Donates £125,000 to Theatre Trust's Theatres Protection Fund

Judy Craymer, MBE has announced support for The Theatres Trust with a donation of £125,000 to its Theatres Protection Fund, matching the Fund's opening donation by The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.

Judy is the creator and global producer of MAMMA MIA!, the smash-hit musical based on the songs of ABBA. It has already been seen by more than 50 million people in over 325 cities across North America, Australia, Europe and Asia. There have been 34 productions in 14 languages. In 2008 she produced the movie adaptation of the musical, which became the highest grossing musical film ever worldwide, with the DVD becoming the biggest selling DVD ever in the UK.

Judy's latest project VIVA FOREVER!, a new West End musical based on the songs of The Spice Girls, written by Jennifer Saunders, will open for previews at the Piccadilly Theatre on 27 November.

Launched in April 2012, the Theatres Protection Fund's Small Grants Scheme, was established by The Theatres Trust to help protect theatres across the country that have significant value within their communities but are struggling with financial assistance. The Scheme allows any UK theatre to submit funding applications up to £5,000 to address any urgent or long-term capital needs to help improve their theatre's physical condition, accessibility and operational viability.

Judy said, 'I started my career working in theatre all over the UK. Theatres are very precious. This country has the richest heritage of theatre anywhere in the world and I genuinely feel we must protect that glorious history for future theatre-going audiences. Its my absolute pleasure to be able to donate this money to the Fund which I hope will encourage others to donate and, most importantly, keep audiences having great nights at theatres across the country.'

Rob Dickins CBE, Chairman, The Theatres Trust said, 'It is great news that Judy Craymer, one of Britain's top producers of musical theatre, is to play a significant role herself by supporting The Theatres Trust in helping theatres in need via our Theatres Protection Fund. Her extraordinary success with not only the theatrical phenomenon, "MAMMA MIA!" but also the box office smash film: picks out Judy as a leading light in the entertainment world. Following The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation's inspiring start, Judy's matching donation, further illustrates that the most successful in the theatre world also care about the problems many theatres have to face on a daily basis."

For further details about applying to the Theatres Protection Fund's Small Grants Scheme can be found at www.theatrestrust.org.uk.

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