Royal & Derngate is asking businesses, audiences and the wider community to help raise £100,000 for the refurbishment of the Derngate auditorium.
The Northampton theatre has secured a £538,000 grant from Arts Council England’s Creative Foundations Fund towards the project but must raise the remaining funding before work begins in August 2027.
The refurbishment will include new seating, replacement flooring and an upgraded audio enhancement system. Royal & Derngate says the improvements will provide a more comfortable and accessible experience for audiences while helping to modernise one of Northampton’s best-known performance venues.
The theatre has launched a year-long fundraising campaign, with donations available through ticket purchases, direct giving via its website and, from September, a contactless donation point in the foyer alongside a display featuring a sample of the new seating.
Holly Gladwell, acting chief executive of Royal & Derngate, said: “We are delighted to have secured this vital funding from Arts Council England’s Creative Foundations Fund towards our refurbishment of Derngate auditorium. But we will need the support of our audiences and the local community to get the project over the line, with a target of £100,000 to raise.
“Refreshing the Derngate auditorium with new seating and flooring, and an improved audio enhancement system, will help build our resilience and ensure we can deliver a theatre fit for the future while continuing to play a vital role in supporting the local economy and the wider cultural sector.”
Businesses interested in supporting the appeal through sponsorship or a donation can find out more by contacting Royal & Derngate’s development team or visiting the theatre’s website to contribute to the campaign.
Derngate opened in 1983 as a multi-purpose venue hosting musicals, comedy, concerts, dance and sporting events. It merged with the neighbouring Royal Theatre in 1999 to form Royal & Derngate, with the last major refurbishment of the building completed in 2006.
