Liverpool & Merseyside Theatres Trust will receive £389,352 from Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund, following a successful application.

Funds will be used to allow both the Everyman & Playhouse theatres to partially re-open with COVID-safe measures in place, to work with freelancers on upcoming productions for Christmas and to invest in digital equipment to stream future productions.

Mark Da Vanzo, chief executive at Liverpool & Merseyside Theatres Trust, said:

“Given current social distancing restrictions, the fund allows us to partially reopen and continue to provide critical employment, as well as make a substantial economic contribution to the Liverpool region. In a normal year, we would contribute over £15m to the local economy and spend over £1m on freelancers, so in reopening we will be able to support both our city’s recovery as well as our precious community of freelance workers once again.”

The Cultural Recovery Fund forms part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s #HereForCulture campaign to protect jobs, restart performances and create work for freelancers. For more information on the Government support provided, visit Art Council England’s Covid-19 support page.