THE artistic director for Worcester Live has warned if theatres like The Swan don’t survive “they will be gone forever” after supporters raised more than £6,000 to keep them afloat

Ben Humphrey says as The Swan Theatre celebrates its 55 year anniversary this weekend, but needs the public's support to ensure The Swan, as well as Huntingdon Hall and the Worcester Repertory Company, can continue.

He was speaking after an alliance of nearly 100 top actors, writers, directors and creatives wrote to the government the arts sector has been brought to its knees and faces ruin after the pandemic.

Mr Humphrey said: “We have launched a campaign to keep The Swan, Worcester Rep and Huntingdon Hall alive.

“We do a diverse range of things, we need help to stay alive.

“My ideal is we get between £15,000 and £20,000, that would really help.

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“The sad irony is over the last 12 months we have the best financial year in nearly a decade, a record breaking year - that shows the support for the arts.

“The big theatres are in financial trouble but without the small theatres we are going to lose a generation of talent.

"And remember for every one actor, there are 10 backstage who also can't work."

Despite the loosening of lockdown for many sectors, there is still no announcement on when theatres will be able to reopen again.

“Apparently flights are able to go ahead, packed in sharing recycled air, yet theatres are shut," he said.

"I don’t understand the logic behind the decisions being made.

“What is crippling us is that we don’t know when we are going to be able to reopen, all the uncertainty. We are desperate to get back.”

To support the campaign, which has so far raised £6,600, visit The Swan theatre on Facebook, or visit worcester-rep.co.uk/donate.

We have also previously reported on the future of Malvern Theatres being in doubt, its chief executive, Nic Lloyd, saying: “The loss of Malvern Theatres would be devastating, not just to our loyal visitors, but also to our local community and economy.

“To avoid this fate, we must act now and work quickly.”