'At-risk' community theatre given grant by council

A community theatre has been given a council grant after announcing it would close without urgent funds.

Cheltenham Playhouse announced last month that it needed to raise an initial £50,000 by the end of June as it did not have the "depth of funds" required to survive.

Neil Burge, acting chair of the Board of Trustees at Cheltenham Playhouse, said the "first milestone is within reach" after receiving a £25,000 grant from Cheltenham Borough Council, which owns the theatre.

Ultimately, Cheltenham Playhouse, which will celebrate its 80th birthday in 2025, hopes to raise £100,000 by the end of the year.