Go Live Theatre has announced a new cohort of high-profile patrons who will support the charity’s mission to make theatre accessible to children and young people.
The newly appointed patrons include Paapa Essiedu, Julie Hesmondhalgh, James Graham, Beverley Knight, Adrian Lester, Ricardo P Lloyd, Rob Madge, Suzie Miller, Gracie McGonigal, Georgina Onuorah, Elaine Paige, Jonathan Pryce, Jonathan Sayer, Mark Strong, Meera Syal, Sam West and Roy Williams.
Chief Executive of Go Live Theatre, Sita McIntosh, said:
“It is a huge honour to add the names and faces of such prestigious talent to our organisation. Every single patron believes as passionately as we do that access to live theatre for our children and young people should not be seen as a privilege but a prerogative. The benefits are numerous, profound and can quite literally be life-changing but also as an industry, theatre has an obligation to cultivate the audiences of tomorrow and where better to start than with our young people.”
Beverley Knight shared her personal connection to the cause:
“I remember my first experience of theatre as a child. It never left me. It shaped the performer I am today, because I saw my dream right in front of me. Visualisation of your aspirations is essential, and I want to help young people see a path to their stage ambitions; I’m proud to come onboard as a patron of Go Live.”
Mark Strong added:
“Access to theatre is essential – the benefit of live performance and the shared experience has time and again proven to not just culturally enrich young people’s lives, but to also support mental health and help develop emotional intelligence. I feel strongly that every child and young person should have the opportunity to access theatre, and it’s this that sits at the very core of what Go Live Theatre do – I’m proud to work with them.”
Meera Syal reflected on her own early experience:
“I didn’t know what theatre was until I attended a local pantomime at the age of 6, and by the end of the show, my world and how I saw the world changed forever. The joys of live theatre and the potential it unlocks in young minds should be available to everyone and I am thrilled to be part of that journey with Go Live.”
James Graham commented:
“Inspiring and helping young people to engage with the arts is just about the most important activity anyone in our industry can be championing right now – especially given the collapse of creativity in schools. I’m so grateful for the work we’ll be doing with Go Live on PUNCH in the West End, and to supporting them beyond.”
Go Live Theatre, formerly Mousetrap Theatre Projects, has been working since 1997 to bring the magic of live theatre to over 250,000 children and young people.
The charity focuses on those from disadvantaged or vulnerable backgrounds, offering subsidised Education Matinees, Family First Nights, Inclusive Family Days, and Relaxed Performances.
Their Play It Forward initiative allows donors to fund free theatre trips for children, with every £10 donated sending one child to a show.
Go Live Theatre continues to pioneer inclusive and transformative programmes that ensure theatre is accessible to all, cultivating the next generation of audiences and creatives.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
