The trust behind the Liverpool city centre theatre has reached a fundraising mark.
Many young performers have benefited from the money raised(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
The Empire Theatre Trust has hit a milestone to help aspiring young performers and theatre goers. The trust behind the iconic Liverpool city centre theatre has reached the £100,000 fundraising mark.
The charitable body trust, revealed a portion of its Terry Smith Awards is now being handed out to members of the Empire Youth Theatre and its creative learning programmes. The Terry Smith Awards was first set up in 2022 in honour of the trust’s late chairman has given out more than £90,000 overall in donations to aspiring members of the Empire Youth Theatre in the name of the former Radio City founder and ex Liverpool FC director.
Over the last five years, many young performers have benefited from the money raised, granting cash bursaries to help them with their studies and associated costs as they attend musical theatre colleges across the country.
Other than bursaries, the trust has also helped Empire Youth Theatre members with expenses that come with attending academic interviews and travelling to auditions.
Over the last year, hundreds of underprivileged Liverpool school children have also been given free trips to the city’s flagship theatre, run by ATG Entertainment, to attend award-winning musical shows.
This week will see 300 children from the region taken to the hit show Annie at the Empire, along with 200 adult family members and chaperones. A project is being run by the Trust in partnership with the Cash for Kids Charity, IDK Trust and ATGE.
This follows last December’s Christmas project, run by the trust with Everton in the Community and the LFC Foundation, to take 500 children to see the West End hit Matilda free of charge.
David Morgan, chairman of the Empire Theatre Trust, said: “We are pleased to have been able to provide support by way of a six figure sum to assist those aspiring to careers in the performing arts sector, and also to help young children who might not get a chance to visit the Empire, to do so.
“The Liverpool Empire is a magical setting with such a rich history stretching back more than 100 years. We are determined to help see that the theatre and everyone associated with it, has an equally bright future.”
Cash for Kids North West regional manager Laura Charlton said: “Cash for Kids are here to support disadvantaged and disabled children across Liverpool and North Wales, last year we supported 44,463 children in our community.
“We know experiences like going to the theatre can stay with a family for years, creating precious memories that children and parents can share and look back on together.”
Laura added: “We are incredibly grateful to be partnering with the Empire Theatre Trust, providing an opportunity that many may otherwise not have been able to afford.
“The response shows just how important these experiences are, with the allocation oversubscribed by more than 250 tickets. That is a powerful reminder that local families want to experience theatre, and that removing the financial barrier can make a real difference.”
