In partnership with Big Give, the UK’s most successful match funding platform, today Birmingham Rep launches its annual fundraising campaign with a focus this year on improving the accessibility of theatre performances and workshops for D/deaf and hard of hearing communities.
This week-long campaign (midday Tuesday 3 December – Tuesday 10 December) aims to raise £10.000 to go towards providing both British Sign Language interpreters for their celebrated adult drama classes, as well as caption screens in their most intimate performance space, The Door to ensure that D/deaf and hard of hearing audiences have greater access to both theatre productions and outreach projects.
Currently, The Rep runs many outreach projects working with young people, adults and artists from the D/deaf community in school settings, talent development and community projects including their partnership with Braidwood School for the Deaf. However, in Birmingham alone, it is estimated that 152,158 people are living with mild hearing loss or greater, with 15,920 people registered as D/deaf or hard of hearing and the theatre only has caption screens available in their largest performance space – The House and only for select performances.
However, as part of The Rep’s mission statement to create an inclusive, exciting and exceptional theatre experience for all, both with and for the people of Birmingham and the wider world, The Rep aims to make more of their theatre productions accessible and support people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to access the magic of theatre such as the current staging of A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story where all performances are captioned.
With Big Give’s match funding, the public’s generosity is multiplied, as donations to the participating charities will be doubled. The Rep’s Big Give Christmas Challenge this year, is generously supported by The Reed Foundation and The Riley Family.
Sarah Cranmer, Director of Fundraising, said: “The Rep has always been an industry leader in creating new exciting productions, but also in our commitment to accessibility – something we are only now seeing other theatres around the country take steps towards.
Being able to use the support of our donors during the Big Give to provide additional caption screens and hire more BSL interpreters, are just another way for The Rep to narrow the barrier of entry to Theatre and the arts, and we’re very excited to see how this campaign inspires our D/deaf and hard of hearing audiences alike to help us make The Rep a theatre for everyone!”
How to donate: Make The Rep a magical space for EVERYONE.
