Touring theatre company receives support from Covid-19 fund
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An international touring theatre company based in Norwich has benefited from a New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership scheme set up to help businesses through Covid-19.
Curious directive’s shows explore life through the lens of science and have been performed in more than 100 venues across the world, playing to over 150,000 people.
The company, which was launched in 2008, is in the process of transforming a medieval church on Elm Hill in Norwich into a sanctuary, laboratory and engine room for creating ground-breaking theatre projects. These developments will bring all its activities under one roof, including The Nave, a co-working space for creative freelances.
Money from the LEP’s Business Resilience & Recovery Scheme will help progress these projects. The LEP launched the scheme in April to provide grants to support short-term business resilience projects and longer-term recovery and diversification projects.
Jack Lowe, Artistic Director of curious directive, said: “Like all business and industry, the arts are experiencing an incredibly difficult time. Theatre will be one of the last services to re-open its doors.
“Our successful application to this scheme has enabled us to stabilise our income streams, with the creation of a digital laboratory in our creation space, a significant improvement on our accessibility facilities and a series of new income streams, including a new outdoor pop-up bar starting in July 2020.
“As a small touring theatre company bringing in business from as far as South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, this local support from the LEP for curious directive is incredibly timely.”
Chris Starkie, chief executive of the LEP, said: “We have a strong and vibrant cultural sector in this region which is being impacted by the pandemic, so I’m pleased we have been able to help this innovative theatre company through our Business Resilience & Recovery Scheme.
“This grant will enable it to improve its rehearsal and performance space, welcome more audience members and make its heritage building more accessible.
“I’d encourage any business which is reviewing its processes, considering investing in new equipment or which needs support to reopen to speak to one of our business advisers at the New Anglia Growth Hub.”
New Anglia Growth Hub provides free, impartial support for businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk. Call 0300 333 6536 or email growthhub@newanglia.co.uk
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