ARC Stockton is leading the way on a project, which has received £99,000 from Arts Council England, to support six North East arts venues to continue to bring quality theatre to areas of the region with low arts engagement.
REACH II is the second phase of a strategic touring project, which in its successful first phase, enabled eight venues across the North East to present nine outstanding touring shows, develop a supportive network, build audience development skills and increase arts engagement in their respective towns.
The funding will now see ARC take a facilitating lead offering expertise and support to five of the venues from the initial phase, along with one new venue.
Saltburn Community Theatre and Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre will benefit from the funding, extending the reach of ARC’s work across the Tees Valley.
Alnwick Playhouse, Arts Centre Washington in Sunderland, Bishop Auckland Town Hall and The Witham in Barnard Castle are also involved in the project.
The programme will support six new pieces of work to tour to the six venues over the next three years.
A showcase event at ARC this autumn will allow the venues to select the first two shows from a range of contemporary theatre from around the UK, which will then visit their venues next year.
Annabel Turpin, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of ARC said: “We are delighted to be supporting the six venues during the second phase of this transformational project. This funding will enable the success of the first phase to continue, and we hope to see more audiences in the Tees Valley and wider region experience and enjoy quality new theatre.”