Theatres Trust is the national advice and advocacy body for the UK’s theatres supporting all forms of theatres, whether old or new, commercial, subsidised or community-run.  Claire Appleby will provide an update on Theatre Trust’s current work on theatres at risk in the UK.

Theatres Trust protects theatres and champion the future of live performance by advising and supporting our nation’s theatres to develop best practice in design and management following the four principles of resilience, environmental sustainability, inclusivity and placemaking.  As a  national advisory public body for theatres, it is a statutory consultee on theatres in the planning system, and also operate as a charity. Its  archives and theatres database provide architectural information on almost 4,000 British theatre buildings, past and present, across the UK. Many historic and contemporary images of theatres from our archive have been digitised and made available online. Theatres Trust were set up by the Government through an Act of Parliament in 1976 and work to promote the better protection of theatres for the benefit of the nation. Find out more at: theatrestrust.org.

The Speaker

Claire Appleby is the Architectural Adviser for Theatres Trust.  She manages the Theatres at Risk work, advises on theatre-related capital redevelopments, and is responsible for the delivery of the Trust’s Advisory Review. Claire studied architecture at the University of Sheffield and has worked for renowned practices including Panter Hudspith Architects, Burrell Foley Fischer LLP, and Bennetts Associates. Claire has experience working on new build and refurbishment projects, both within the arts sector and on heritage buildings, including projects for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Hall in Harrogate. Claire joined Theatres Trust in June 2015.