Theatres Trust

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Theatres Trust
Formation1976 (by the Theatres Trust Act 1976)
Legal statusNational Advisory Public Body
PurposeTo offer guidance and advice relating to planning, heritage, regeneration and development, architecture and design which concern theatres.
HeadquartersThe Theatres Trust
22 Charing Cross Road
London
WC2H 0QL
United Kingdom
Revenue
From The Theatres Trust Charitable Fund

The Theatres Trust is the National Advisory Public Body for Theatres in the United Kingdom. [1] It was founded in 1976 by an Act of Parliament to "promote the better protection of theatres for the benefit of the nation". The Trust has played a leading role in protecting theatre buildings for the duration of its history. It provides specialist advice to a variety of stakeholders throughout Britain to assist with the promotion and preservation of theatre buildings. The Trust's central aim is to "ensure that current and future generations have access to good quality theatres that reflect our cultural life and offer inspiring places to enjoy theatre". The Trust also holds historical and architectural records of many theatre buildings throughout the United Kingdom, which is made available online as part of a "Theatres Database". [2]

Contents

The Trust is administered by The Theatres Trust Charitable Fund, a registered charity under English law. [3]

Remit

Theatres Trust Act 1976
Act of Parliament
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (variant 1, 1952-2022).svg
Long title An Act to establish a Theatres Trust for the better protection of theatres; and for purposes connected therewith.
Citation 1976 c. 27
Dates
Royal assent 22 July 1976
Text of the Theatres Trust Act 1976 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Theatres Trust was established by the Theatres Trust Act 1976 which had a central focus of ensuring "that current and future generations have access to good quality theatres that reflect our cultural life and offer inspiring places to enjoy theatre". The Trust offers guidance and advice relating to planning, heritage, regeneration and development, architecture and design which concern theatres.

The trust's remit covers a wide range of buildings which include theatres, old and new, in current use, in other uses, or disused. Notably, it also includes ciné-variety buildings or structures that have been converted to theatre, circus buildings and performing art centres. [4]

The Theatres Trust is a statutory consultee, as defined by the legislation within the Theatres Trust Act 1976 and is accordingly consulted on any planning application or development involving land on which there is a theatre or which will affect theatre use. Consequently, local authorities are legally required to notify the Trust when planning applications are submitted that fall within the remit of the trust. Additionally, the Trust is consulted on all Local Development Frameworks, Planning Briefs, Area Action Plans and Cultural Quarters consultations that relate to cultural and leisure facilities. [5]

While the Theatres Trust Act 1976 (and with it the trust) originally applied only to England and Wales, it was extended to Scotland by the Theatres Trust (Scotland) Act 1978. [6]

Resources

The Theatres Trust currently offers a number of resources that contribute towards the promotion of the better protection of theatres:

Publications

Theatres Magazine (TM)
Editor-in-chiefMhora Samuel
FrequencyQuarterly
PublisherThe Theatres Trust Charitable Fund
Founded2004
CountryUnited Kingdom
Website Archive
ISSN 1759-7668
OCLC 56705260

The Theatres Trust publishes Theatres Magazine (TM) quarterly. [9]

Membership

The Theatres Trust currently employs eight members of staff who perform a variety of tasks to help facilitate the Trust's central remit. The Trust is governed by fifteen trustees who are appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. [10] These Trustees are appointed due to their expertise in a wide range of differing areas including theatre management, planning law and the performing arts (who include Penelope Keith and Dara Ó Briain). The Chairman of the Trust is currently Tim Eyles.

Paragraph 1A of the Schedule to the Theatres Trust Act 1976 requires that "one of the trustees shall be a person who appears to the Secretary of State to have special knowledge of Scotland". The Secretary of State is required to consult the Scottish Ministers before appointing such a trustee. [11]

Funding

The Theatres Trust owns the freeholds of The Garrick, Lyceum and Lyric Theatres in London and this is the principal source of its income base. These freeholds were transferred to the Trust by the London Residuary Body, following the abolition of the Greater London Council, to protect and ensure the continued operation of the theatres. [12] The rest of its funding is mostly derived from proceeds from events held by the Theatres Trust and donations by supporters.

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References

  1. "The Theatres Trust's website". The Theatres Trust
  2. "Online database of theatre buildings in United Kingdom". The Theatres Trust
  3. "THE THEATRES TRUST CHARITABLE FUND, registered charity no. 274697". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  4. "1976 Theatres Trust Act". National Archives
  5. "Memorandum relating to 2011 Localism Bill that gives information relating to the remit of The Theatres Trust". Department for Communities and Local Government
  6. Theatres Trust (Scotland) Act 1978.
  7. "Educational resource relating to the history of theatres". The Theatres Trust
  8. "Article discussing the Theatres at Risk Register". BBC
  9. "TM Theatres Magazine". theatrestrust.org.uk. Theatres Trust.
  10. "Official notification regarding the appointment of new Theatres Trust members". Department of Culture, Media & Sport
  11. See the Scotland Act 1998 (Cross-Border Public Authorities) (Adaptation of Functions etc.) Order 2000.
  12. "Transcript of parliamentary debate discussing the transference of the Garrick, Lyric & Lyceum Theatres to the Theatres Trust". Hansard.