Like many theatres, Theatre@41 in York has faced many challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since its opening on Monkgate in 1998, the Victorian venue has been transformed for some of the most critically acclaimed productions staged in the city. It also operates as a much-needed rehearsal space and dance studio.
To help ensure the venue survives, the charity’s Board of Trustees has enlisted a host of new patrons to help increase publicity and start planning its ambitious return post-lockdown.
These famous faces include York-born actor David Bradley (known for his roles in Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and Broadchurch), comedian Rosie Jones, Karen Henthorn (National Theatre’s War Horse), John McArdle (Brookside and Emmerdale), Stephen Dolginoff (Thrill Me, Monster Makers and Flames) and Felicity Cooper who is the daughter of the theatre’s founder and former Chair Jim Welsman.
The venue is often thought of as a more intimate performance space compared to the city’s bigger venues such as York Theatre Royal. It is just as vital to the arts scene as its bigger counterparts.