A VENUE is appealing to raise urgent funds as part of a campaign to save UK theatres from closing permanently.

Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival has joined the Save Our Theatres crowdfunding campaign, launched yesterday by the Theatres Trust.

Brighton Dome has lost 67 per cent of its income from ticket sales and events since the venue was forced to close in March and Brighton Festival 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The venue is still closed for live events and can currently only consider vastly reduced attendances for socially distanced performances in its 1,800 capacity concert hall, while the Corn Exchange Studio Theatres are undergoing major refurbishment until next autumn.

The registered arts charity is aiming to raise £25,000 through community donations which will help towards the additional £250,000 it needs to raise in the next year.

Supporters can choose a range of rewards for their donation, including art prints, ticket vouchers, signed posters and personal backstage tours.

Chief executive Andrew Comben said: “Our extraordinary team are committed to bringing back arts and culture to our venues. Anyone who is able to donate to the campaign will not only be supporting the city’s vital arts community but they will be doing their bit to help bring back live performance to one of its most treasured spaces.”

Donations will be used to programme and deliver shows at Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival next year.

To donate, go to crowdfunder.co.uk/bringbackbrightondome.