Audenshaw theatre receives grant funding for new accessible doors

AN AUDENSHAW theatre is celebrating after winning a grant to install new accessible doors.

Guide Bridge will receive £4,536 to put them into the Audenshaw Road building as work to improve it goes on.

Two sets, which lead on to the accessible area of the car park, will be replaced after the award by the Theatres Trust.

Guide Bridge Theatre in Audenshaw

They will also have the added benefit of reducing heat loss and decreasing draughts in the theatre.

A spokesperson for Guide Bridge said: “We are incredibly grateful for a much-needed grant to replace the doors to our theatre with new accessible doors.

“This is just the latest phase of ongoing improvements designed to provide our community with a theatre fit for the 21st century.”

Guide Bridge’s award is part of the seventh round of grants of up to £5,000 for essential works to enable not-for-profit theatres across the UK to be viable and thrive in the future.

It is one of 20 around the country to receive funding to improve theatres’ sustainability, access and viability.

In total, 112 – this latest round takes them into three figures – have benefitted as Theatres Trust aims to support theatres to become fit for the future and thrive as cultural community hubs.

The scheme was launched in 2021 with the support of The Linbury Trust, which renewed its funding in 2022 for a further three years.

Jon Morgan, Theatres Trust director, said: “We are delighted that our partnership with The Linbury Trust has been able to support so many theatres with essential projects to enable them to survive and thrive.”

Stuart Hobley, director of The Linbury Trust, added: “We’re delighted to have reached this important milestone, supporting resilience of theatres right across the UK.

“From work to become more energy efficient, to improving accessibility, these grants are a testament to local theatres and their role at the heart of local life.”