National Theatre's Up Next Gala Raises £1.165m To Fund Work In And With Communities Across The UK

The National Theatre last night hosted its biennial fundraising Up Next gala, raising a record-breaking £1.165 million to support their inspirational work in and with communities across the UK.

Rufus Norris, Director of the National Theatre, said: "The UK is more divided than at any point in my lifetime. Across the country, a staggering number of people face a pervasive inequality of opportunity. The arts, which can transform lives, are not accessible to those who might most benefit from them. Using funds raised from the gala, we are able to continue working with partners across the UK to redress this imbalance and harness the power and potential of theatre to bring people together."

This ambition is realised in many strands of the National Theatre's work; from UK-wide touring productions and NT Live broadcasts through to initiatives such as the annual youth theatre festival Connections, playwriting competition New Views, and the NT's extraordinary new participatory theatre programme Public Acts, which last summer saw 233 people of all ages from local community groups transform Pericles - Shakespeare's little-performed play - into a triumphant celebration of theatre and community on the National Theatre's Olivier Stage.

The Up Next Gala began with a Nyetimber drinks reception, after which Bubble Catering served a bespoke dinner paired with wine provided by award-winning fine wine specialists, Berry Bros & Rudd on the stage of the Olivier Theatre.

The evening featured performances commissioned for the evening, included a scene devised by the NT's Director Rufus Norris and Deputy Artistic Director Ben Power and performed by actors Mark Addy, Roger Allam, Owain Arthur, Lois Chimimba, Olivia Colman, Christopher Eccleston, Lenny Henry, Alex Jennings, Kate O'Flynn, Jonjo O'Neill, Meera Syal and David Tennant.

Once-in-a-lifetime experiences were won in an auction hosted by UK Chairman at Sotheby's Lord Harry Dalmeny. Lots included Sunday lunch on an NT stage, a unique curated visit to the Van Gogh museum staying at the Soho House Amsterdam, and a City breakfast with the cast and creatives of the acclaimed NT show The Lehman Trilogy.

The Up Next Gala was generously supported by The Wall Street Journal and the Mark Pigott KBE Family.

The Gala was further supported by Aesop, Berry Bros & Rudd, Blue-i, Cantate Communications, Merchant Heart, Meyer Sound, Nyetimber, Unusual Rigging and White Light & Harman.

The Up Next Gala auction donors included BigTalk Productions, Delta Airlines, Eponine London, The Groucho Club, London Stock Exchange Group, MAC Cosmetics, Stella McCartney, Melia Hotels International, Sauce Supper Club, Soccer AM, Soho House Amsterdam, Sotheby's, Van Gogh Museum and Warner Bros. Entertainment.

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