Theatre News

Altruistic Actors Support ‘Access for All’

A cast including Freddie Jones (Emmerdale, RSC, Ladies in Lavender), Paterson Joseph (Peep Show, The Green Wing), Toby Jones (Harry Potter) and David Neilson (Coronation Street) gave their support to the York Theatre Royal’s Access for All Fund at the weekend in an exclusive charity performance of King Lear.

The celebrity actors, who all gave their time for free, performed the play as a rehearsed reading which was recorded live. The event was a great success and over £4,500 was raised on the night to put towards the £50,000 Access for All Fund target.

The funds will be invested in the De Grey Rooms where facilities are offered to children and young people who take part in the theatre’s creative participation scheme. There is a particular emphasis on improving the physical accessibility in the Rooms including a disabled access lift.

Liz Wilson, Chief Executive of York Theatre Royal commented: ‘Artistically the event was superb, really high quality and a real pleasure to have on our stage. It also demonstrated lots of goodwill in the city towards the theatre and we would like to say a big thank you to all that came and supported us.’