Theatre Support Fund+ raises £125,000 for UK theatre workers

Theatre Support Fund+ raise £125,000 for people working in the theatre industry across the UK.

In just four short weeks, the Theatre Support Funds+ has raised £125,000 for charity.

Over 7,500 orders of merchandise and t-shirts branded with The Show Must Go On have been shipped to 42 countries across the globe. Volunteers from the West End theatre community continue to pack orders daily.

The proceeds from the project will be split between Acting for Others, the Fleabag Support Fund who are providing financial aid to people working in the theatre industry who are experiencing hardship as a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic, as well as the NHS COVID-19 Urgent Appeal.

Established just over a month ago by 2 friends Chris Marcus and Damien Stanton, The Show Must Go On merchandise were created in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic which saw theatres across the UK closed. Marcus who runs MarcusHall Props and Damien an Assistant Stage Manager and freelance graphic designer must now be two of the busiest theatre people in lockdown.

The shirt design is an amalgamation of the world-famous branding of 16 of the biggest musicals in the West End. We created a unique item with all of these shows side by side, in unity, longing for a time when ’the show can go on’ again.

The shows taking part in the project are: Tina, The Tina Turner Musical, Dear Evan Hansen, Everyone’s Talking about Jamie, Six The Musical, Hamilton, The Book of Mormon, Wicked, Matilda The Musical, & Juliet, Les Miserables, The Prince of Egypt, The Lion King, Come From Away, The Phantom of the Opera, Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia!

Whilst a lot of industries in the UK are now starting to emerge from lockdown, it is becoming clear that the theatre industry will be amongst the last to re-open as it poses unique challenges healthwise, so the fund-raising effort continues.

The Show Must Go On T-shirts and other merchandising can be purchased here.