Home North East Funding boost for Grangetown’s backstreet theatre group

Funding boost for Grangetown’s backstreet theatre group

Linda Beel, Vice Chair of Beyond Housing’s Tenants’ Panel (front, 2nd right) presents a cheque for £500 to Backstreet Theatre Group Manager (front, left) and members of the group. Also present are Beyond Housing Community Connector Natalie Connelly (back left) and Customer Experience Insight Business Partner Russell Bateman (right)

Beyond Housing has donated £500 to the Backstreet Theatre Group.

Formed on 1 October 2018, Beyond Housing is marking its first birthday by donating £500 to ten charities and community groups across the footprint it operates in, spanning from Redcar and Cleveland to Scarborough.

The Backstreet Theatre Group, which is based at Grangetown Youth and Community Centre and has been established for more than 20 years, welcomes adults of all ages with learning disabilities. It gives them a safe space to join in an ongoing programme of theatrical performances, either on-stage or behind the scenes with script writing, making scenery and costumes, sound and lighting, film and photography, publicity and fundraising events.

Backstreet Theatre Group manager Josh Watson said: “We are proud to be a theatre company located in the Grangetown community.


“This generous donation from Beyond Housing will help towards the cost of putting on future productions including the provision of costumes, props, lighting and sound.”

Tracy O’Neill, Executive Director of Customers and Communities at Beyond Housing, said: “Beyond Housing is fully committed to supporting the grass-roots groups which do so much to enrich the lives of people within our communities.

“The Backstreet Theatre Group is a fantastic resource that allows adults with learning disabilities to be creative, and to learn the practical skills needed to stage a theatre performance. I’m delighted our birthday donation will help the group to deliver future shows.