This year the annual conference is taking place on Monday 28 April 2014 in Leeds, at the famous Grade II* listed City Varieties Music Hall. Early Bird delegate rate runs to Friday 28 March. The community theatres conference is co-locating alongside PLASA Focus: Leeds, the popular regional entertainment technology trade show that runs the following day at the Royal Armouries on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 April.
Mhora Samuel, Director of The Theatres Trust says: "We are delighted to be in Leeds this year, after we were so well received last time. Co-location with PLASA Focus means that the theatre community is able to gather for our annual conference, and then take advantage of the networking opportunities the trade show offers over the following two days - making an even more compelling reason for the theatre industry to visit Leeds".
Christopher Toulmin, Director of Events for PLASA Focus agrees: "The community theatres sector is an important part of our audience at PLASA Focus, and so it makes perfect sense for The Theatres Trust to hold their conference in Leeds the day prior to our well established event. It will enable a day of learning, debate and networking at the conference, and then an opportunity for delegates to come along to PLASA Focus at the Royal Armouries for more opportunities to learn through our Professional Development Programme and meet many of the suppliers and manufacturers providing services and equipment to their theatres. We are extremely pleased to see The Theatres Trust in Leeds and look forward to welcoming everyone to the show."
The key topics being covered at Conference 14 include looking at what makes a community theatre, how to fundraise to buy and maintain community theatres, the new Community Rights agenda which gives people more of a say on running their local communities, and the capital projects being planned by community theatres. This includes how to list theatres as Assets of Community Value, taking on Community Asset Transfers and raising funds through Community Shares and the Lottery. View the full Conference 14: Community Theatres programme
The conference is the latest in a series of annual conferences presented by The Theatres Trust to develop the debate on what makes a good theatre. As part of PLASA's Professional Development Programme, The Theatres Trust is also hosting a seminar Championing Community Theatres at PLASA Focus on Tuesday 29 April.
