Arts Council gives green light to Regional Touring Network

Arts Council England has awarded £826,786 to launch The Regional Touring Network.

Facilitated by English Touring Theatre, the network is a consortium of nine regional venues that will "produce and tour high quality drama on the mid-scale to audiences throughout England".

The hope is that by linking together, the venues can build audiences through a "comprehensive and effective audience development plan" and deliver a "legacy of sustainable touring".

The Regional Touring Network is a three-year project, with the first tour due to commence in autumn 2016.

The venues involved are Oldham Coliseum; Northcott Theatre, Exeter; Cast, Doncaster; Warwick Arts Centre; Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham; Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield; Harrogate Theatre; Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple and Lighthouse, Poole.

Director of English Touring Theatre Rachel Tackley said: "It is clear that there is an appetite for brilliant and ambitious mid-scale work in regional theatres which is currently not being filled. This is a great opportunity for English Touring Theatre to work with these nine venues and make a real impact on theatregoing opportunities for a broad range of audiences across the country."