Buxton Opera House and Buxton International Festival given government funding to ensure survival

Buxton Opera House has been given over half-a-million pounds in Government funding to ensure its survival during the pandemic.
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The theatre says the £530,643 share in the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund will help them welcome people back to a Covid-secure environment - maintaining financial stability.

Funding worth £257 million announced this week is the first round of the scheme and Buxton Opera House is one of 1,385 organisations across the country receiving support.

The money comes following months of hand wringing for the High Peak venue.

In July volunteers Illuminated the Buxton Opera House in red lighting to highlight the plight of workers and venues in the theatre industry - Photo by David John KingIn July volunteers Illuminated the Buxton Opera House in red lighting to highlight the plight of workers and venues in the theatre industry - Photo by David John King
In July volunteers Illuminated the Buxton Opera House in red lighting to highlight the plight of workers and venues in the theatre industry - Photo by David John King

In June the theatre company which has brought pantos to Buxton since the 90s - Scene 3 Creative - announced the cancellation of this year’s Aladdin production.

Though at the time Opera House CEO Paul Kerryson said ‘as far as Aladdin goes we’re still hoping to see it staged’.

Then last month Paul told how High Peak Theatre Trust - who oversee the venue - had ‘commenced a consultation period with our permanent staff team’.

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He added: “Due to the Coronavirus pandemic Buxton Opera House has been closed since March 23.”

Reacting to this week’s announcement Paul said: “The grant announced today is most welcome and provides a life-line in these challenging times and is a strong signal of confidence in this vital cultural resource.

“Buxton Opera House is a much-loved and vital part of the cultural fabric of the High Peak area with a significant and positive all year impact on the local economy.

“An eclectic programme includes the Buxton International Festival, a wide-reaching community and engagement programme and a host of visiting companies and artists.”

Alongside the Opera House Buxton International Festival received £101,895 from the fund.

The festival - which has been running for 40 years - was set to go ahead between July 3-19 however it was cancelled in March.

Trustees said at the time that with authors and musicians increasingly unable to travel they could not deliver a festival ‘of the quality you expect’.

High Peak MP Robert Largan said he was ‘delighted’ about the two awards - totalling over £630,000.

He said: “I’ve been lobbying hard to secure support for our local arts and I’m really pleased to have helped secure this vital funding.”

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