Theatre Improvement Scheme Application Form 2026

Theatres Trust

Theatre Improvement Scheme in association with the Wolfson Foundation 2026: Improving Sustainability

Preparing your Application Form

Please read the Guidance Notes on our website before completing this form.

Please ensure you answer all the questions following word limit guidance when given.

The deadline for receipt of your submission is noon on Friday 11 September 2026.

Applications will be acknowledged within two working days following submission. If you do not receive an acknowledgement email info@theatrestrust.org.uk to confirm that your application has been logged.

We may need to get back to you with further questions for clarification following the deadline.

1.1 Please summarise your improvement works in a brief sentence. This title may be used for publicity and promotional purposes

2.1 Name of individual making this application on behalf of the organisation

2.2 Your position/role in the organisation

2.3 Legal name of the organisation operating the theatre

2.4 Address of organisation/venue operator

Street Address

Address Line 2

CityCountry (Note that eligible applicants must be based in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland)

Post Code

2.5 Telephone

Area CodePhone Number

2.6 Mobile

2.7 Email

example@example.com

3.1 Name of the theatre

3.2 Address of theatre

Street Address

Address Line 2

CityCountry (Note that eligible applicants must be based in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland)

Post Code

3.3 Theatre website (if applicable)

3.4 Theatre X (formerly Twitter) (if applicable)

3.5 Theatre BlueSky (if applicable)

3.6 Theatre LinkedIn (if applicable)

3.7 Theatre Facebook (if applicable)

3.8 Theatre Instagram (if applicable)

3.9 Are you a not-for-profit or local authority?

Not for profit hidden?

3.10 Type of charitable or not-for-profit organisation (e.g. charity, CIC, etc.)

3.11 Your Company Number (if applicable)

3.12 Your Registered Charity Number (if applicable)

3.13 Your VAT Registration Number (if applicable)

3.14 How long have you owned or leased your theatre?

3.15 If you lease your theatre, what is the remaining term of the lease? (Please note that eligible applicants are required to have leases of five years or more)

3.16 Please provide a copy of your current lease or other proof of the remaining term

3.17 If you lease your theatre, please give the legal name of the freeholder, plus contact details of the freeholder and/or any head leaseholder

3.18 Please provide your audited or certified accounts for the last two financial years. Below please confirm which years they are from

Upload your audited or certified accounts for the last two financial years. Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx. Limit 10MB

Space to provide details if you do not have accounts for the last two years

0/100

4.1 How many live public performances are presented in total across your auditoriums in one year?

4.2 Please note that to be eligible, your venue must be open and presenting at least 30 public live performances per year. Please refer to the guidance document for details of our requirements in relation to live performances. Please complete the table below

Rows	Financial year: i.e. 2024/25	Name	Capacity (seating/standing)	No of live public performances presented in that year	Total number of attendances in that year
Auditorium 1
Auditorium 2
Auditorium 3

4.3 Please describe how your theatre fits into the local cultural ecology and the audiences and communities you serve.

0/100

4.4 Please outline your ambitions for your theatre and how this project will help you achieve excellence in those ambitions.

0/250

4.5 Please confirm whether you are currently receiving regular funding from one of the UK national arts councils (Arts Council England, Arts Council Wales or Arts Council NI) or arts development agency (Creative Scotland) and/or whether you are in receipt of revenue funding from a local authority/local authorities

The Theatre Green Book provides guidance that will be useful for this section, including the Building Survey Tool.

5.1 Please describe the improvement works that you plan to undertake and how you would use this grant. Ensure you succinctly explain the exact works involved, and whether they fit into a larger phased scheme (if applicable)

0/250

5.2 Please also give details of how you will measure the impact of your proposed work and achieve best practice in theatre design

0/250

5.3 Have you used the Theatre Green Book’s Building Survey Tool to help create a plan to make your building more sustainable?

5.4 If yes, which areas of your Sustainability Plan does this project contribute to?

0/100

5.5 Have you already secured quotes for the goods/services related to this application?

5.6 If yes, please provide details and include PDF copies of these quotes as attachments to your application

5.7 Please provide photos and/or plans if these are necessary to explain the works

6.1 Please give details of who will manage the Project and their credentials (if known)

6.2 If the owner of your theatre is different from the leaseholder of your theatre please describe if you already have the permission you need to undertake your Project or when you intend to secure this permission. If you have permission, please attach a letter confirming this from the building owner

0/100

Space to upload letter detailing permission (if applicable)

6.3 Will your Project require planning permission/listed building consent/conservation area consent?

6.4 What is the timetable for the implementation of your Project

0/100

6.5 When do you anticipate spending a grant from the scheme? A grant must be spent within one year of the date you receive your offer letter. Please note that after the application deadline, it will be approximately 10 weeks before decisions are made and works relating to this grant cannot commence before this period. (100 words max)

0/100

6.6 Please outline the risks you anticipate may be associated with the completion of your Project and how you plan to mitigate them

0/100

7.1 What is the total net cost of your Project? (excluding VAT)

7.2 How much are you applying for? (note the maximum grant for this scheme is £20,000)

7.3 If you require any additional funding to support the project, how much is already in place, and what are your plans to meet any funding gap?

7.4 Please provide a budget for both costs and income for the project, identifying income sources beyond Theatres Trust as Confirmed or Expected. Please clearly explain the VAT position of the project.

7.5 Have you previously received a grant from this or any other Theatres Trust grants scheme?

7.6 If so, on what date did you submit your Evaluation Form? (Please note, you cannot apply to this scheme until 12 months after submission of your Final Evaluation Report for any previous award)

7.7 Do you have a current application to any other Wolfson Foundation funding schemes or have you received funding from The Wolfson Foundation towards this project

I have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions of the Small Grants Programme (available on Theatres Trust website)

Signature

Print name: (Note: The individual described in question 2.1 should sign this form)

On behalf of Organisation

Date

Checklist

Supporting documents

Please ensure your digital submission includes the following attachments to the email provided:

1. Lease (if required)

2. Annual Accounts for two previous years (required)

3. Quotes and/or estimates for building works (required)

4. Photos/plans to explain the scheme (optional)

5. Budget (required)

What happens next

We will assess the application against the criteria outlined in the Guidance Notes (available on the Theatres Trust website)

We will let you know the outcome of the application within approximately 10 weeks of the closing date. Grants will be awarded in line with the funding request.

Please note that you may be asked to provide further details on your project for the Theatres Trust to make a decision on your application.

If successful, we will send you an offer letter, bank details form, grant agreement and terms and conditions.

Your grant will be paid to you in full once you tell us that the work is due to start. The grant must be claimed within one year of the date of the offer letter.

Once you let us know that the project is due to start, we will issue you with an evaluation report form which we you must send back to us within six months of completion of the project in order that we can assess the impact of our support, create case studies and feedback to our partners. You may not re-apply for a Theatres Trust Grant until 12 months after the date of receipt of your final Evaluation Report.

If unsuccessful, we will send you an email with a brief indication of why you have not been successful and providing general feedback. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide any further detailed feedback due to the volume of applications we receive. You may re-apply in future rounds.

Theatres Trust, May 2026

1. Your project

2. Contact details

3. Theatre details

4. Your theatre

5. Improving Sustainability

6. Project management and delivery

7. Project Cost