Background
The Theatre Shop, established in 2015, is a volunteer-led community theatre located in Clevedon. The primary motivation behind starting this venture was to bring the best of the South West’s professional touring theatre to the local community. The Theatre Shop offers a diverse range of performances, including children’s theatre, comedy, live music, and poetry, aiming to entertain and stimulate both audiences and volunteers.
The Theatre Shop continues to be a vital community hub, providing accessible, thought-provoking, and entertaining performances. It engages with the community, allowing audiences to explore their creativity and fostering a sense of pride in the locality.
Support
The Theatre Shop received significant support when applying for the Town Occupancy Grant (“TOG”), a programme funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered by North Somerset Council, Business West, and the hive.
Reflecting on the assistance received from the hive, the team noted, “We had great support when applying for the funding.”
The TOG was designed to help small businesses and social enterprises increase their viability in town centre locations. The support provided to The Theatre Shop included sales promotion, brand management, digital transformation, and identification of grant funding opportunities. An average of 12 hours of support was given to each applicant to enhance their business sustainability and growth.
The legacy of this support is evident in the sustained growth and increased viability of The Theatre Shop, which continues to thrive and serve the community.
The experience
The Theatre Shop has successfully implemented several projects to improve its facilities and audience experience.
These projects include:
- Shopfront Lighting: Installation of three window display units, and a light for the theatre sign above the shop front. This has improved visibility, attracted attention, and increased footfall and ticket sales.
- Coffee Machine and Ice-Cream Freezer: Adding these amenities has widened the refreshment offerings, especially for daytime and parent/child audiences, thereby improving the experience for local audiences and visiting performers and increasing bar sales.
- Water Heater, Sink, and Glass Washer: Installing these facilities has improved sustainability by eliminating disposable plastic glasses and replacing them with reusable glasses and a glass washing facility.
“The project has been very successful, receiving lots of positive feedback from both audiences and volunteers”, Mike Graham, Chair of the Theatre Shop, stated.
The improved facilities, especially the ability to offer coffees and ice creams, have been particularly well-received. Additionally, the move from disposable to reusable plastic glasses has garnered positive feedback. The sign lighting and display have significantly improved the visibility of The Theatre Shop.
The legacy of these improvements is the enhanced experience for both audiences and volunteers, contributing to the theatre’s long-term success and sustainability.
