Sponsorship
The Arts Council of Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government sponsored arts body, agreed a major lottery grant to Swansea Little Theatre towards the £350k redevelopment of the Dylan Thomas Theatre in the city’s expanding Maritime quarter.
The Arts Council grant of £280k was met with £70k of funding from the theatre company. We received help and funds from local businesses, but we still need ongoing support.
That's a lot of money!
If you haven't read about us, then we can summarize it for you in a very simple manner - we're a group of possibly the most devoted volunteers, and do everything we can for our hobby, our community, our theatre; but to raise £70k on our own was a big, BIG task.
We need your help - with your help, we can make it happen!
What next ...
If you haven't, why not take a quick read about our project below and find out how you can help! If you'd like more information, why not read what Andrew Davies AM has said about our grant.
About the Project
The actually application process is extremely long, so we've summarized the more relevant sections of the application below.
The aim of the project
- To completely refurbish the Dylan Thomas Theatre (originally an old garage transformed into the current theatre by members in the early 80s).
- To improve access for disabled people (ramps and rails), up-grade the public toilets (with disabled access) and provide a cloakroom, up-grade the dressing room (2 dressing rooms, one for each gender - particularly relevant for Youth theatre productions and hire by groups featuring children), up-grade backstage toilets and showers.
- To make a prominent entrance to Dylan Thomas Square (the current entrance is hardly visible in Gloucester Place). This to encourage SA1/ Marina/ tourists to use the theatre.
- To create better office space and performance area for ourselves and other outside hirers. They will be using the theatre in a new initiative for training students. They will also market the theatre, sell tickets (ticket sales to be computerised) and keep the theatre running all week.
- To move the bar and upgrade both bar and kitchen for conference use.
- To improve the wardrobe facilities for us and outside letting's such as Theatr na n ‘Og (theatre in education) and other outside theatre companies.
Who will benefit from the project?
- The project will benefit the whole of Swansea and South Wales.
- Disabled people will have their theatre experience greatly enhanced with better access and facilities.
- Swansea school children that regularly attend the theatre via na n'Og with have improved facilities.
- Other outside letting's such as the many schools that use the theatre to stage school plays and parent meetings.
- Local resident associations, dance schools and Circus Interuptus with their special use of theatre for handicapped children.
- Other amateur theatre groups who do not have their own theatre.
How can you ensure you will commit to these aims?
- The new entrance will open onto Dylan Thomas Square so the theatre will be highly visible for the first time to visitors, tourists and local residents in the area.
- With extra facilities(i.e. ramps, hand rails, new toilets) disabled people will have a user friendly theatre for the first time.
Hopefully, you now know the determination of our theatre, our commitment to our community, and the uphill struggle we face.
How can you help?
As we said on our main page, The Arts Council of Wales has agreed a major lottery grant of £350k towards the redevelopment of the Dylan Thomas Theatre. The Arts Council grant of £280k will be met with £70k of funding from the theatre company.
There are so many ways in which you can help...
We have a new programme of sponsorship prepared, local companies are starting to offer their support, but we need your support too!
We have many ways in which both individuals and companies can support their community theatre...
Donations
Of course you can always simply donate. We would welcome monetary donations to help our cause. As a thank you for all donations over £200, we will include you on our Sponsors Board which features prominently on the buildings exterior.
Payment can be made by cheque payable to Swansea Little Theatre and sent to our address.
As a company...
A wide range of flexible sponsorship packages are available. We are seeking either a major sponsor for all of the following or several smaller sponsors. We are happy to negotiate sponsorship packages and prices with you.
Principal Sponsor Opportunities
- Your name or your company name/logo will be the very first thing our visitors see as they enter the theatre.
- Suggested price: £20,000 for 5 years.
- Our bar area is open for all shows at the theatre.
- Suggested price: £20,000 for 5 years
- Visible even when the theatre is closed.
- Suggested price: £10,000 for 5 years
What can we offer in return?
We understand the individuality of your business and we will design your sponsorship package to your needs. The following are available:
- Naming a sponsored area e.g. foyer, bar, entrance doors or auditorium.
- Advertising with all Swansea Little Theatre productions as follows:
- DVD advertising prior to shows in the auditorium.
- Advertising and logo in our programme's.
- Display of your company information.
- Use of the theatre auditorium, foyer or bar area for training or entertaining.
- Free theatre tickets, concessionary tickets and corporate entertainment.
- Outreach theatre or assistance with your training needs.
- Your logo on our prominently placed Sponsors Boards on the interior and exterior of the building.
Show Sponsor
This is a way to really get your company noticed, with your logo on our widespread publicity for all of our Swansea Little Theatre Company productions.
- Per show- £2,000
- Per season - £10,000 (6 shows per season)
What can we offer in return?
- Your logo on all flyers circulated to 8,000 homes and businesses, posters, website and banners.
- Display of your company information on show nights.
- DVD advertising prior to shows in the auditorium.
- A FULL back page advert on the show programme.
- Your company name scripted into the pre-show announcement.
- FREE show tickets and a free bottle of wine during interval.
Curtain Up Sponsor
Every 2 months our Newsletter - Curtain Up - is circulated to each of our 150 members and is sold to theatre audiences. It has a full-colour cover and middle page and is packed with audition dates, reviews and diary dates. Your logo would feature on the cover and your advertisement on page 3.
- £80 per edition
- £400 per year (6 editions)
Programme Advertising
Our programmes vary in size from A5 to A4 and are usually black and white inside with a colour cover. We will design your advert for you, if you wish. Advertising for a season of 6 programmes attracts a 25% discount.
- Full Page - £100
- Half Page - £60
- Quarter Page - £35
Donations
Of course you can always simply donate. We would welcome monetary donations to help our cause. As a thank you for all donations over £200 we will include you on our Sponsors Board which features prominently on the building’s exterior.
Payment can be made by cheque payable to Swansea Little Theatre and sent to our address.