Newtown theatre seeks £5,000 a year from town council

Hafren Theatre is seeking at least £5,000 a year from Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council under a proposed new funding partnership to help support its community programme.

The proposal has been put forward by the theatre, which is part of NPTC Group of Colleges, and would establish an annual contribution from the town council towards the core costs of community activities at the Newtown venue.

The proposal states: “This agreement establishes a formal funding partnership to support the core costs of the Community Programme of activities delivered by Hafren Theatre. As a guide, a minimum of £5,000 per year.”

Hafren says it continues to face a challenging financial position after losing its Arts Council of Wales revenue funding in 2023.

Since then, income from ticket sales, front of house sales, meetings and conferences has helped keep the theatre operating, alongside applications to trusts and foundations.

The report says: “The financial situation is constantly challenging, but by incorporating a flexible business model Hafren has managed its financial resources, balancing these with a wide and varied programme of events.”

It adds: “This means of funding is highly competitive and therefore increasingly declining in any success. The majority of applications require a ‘project’ and don’t include any core funding element.”

Despite the financial pressures, figures included in the proposal show growing demand. New customers increased by 15.5 per cent during 2025/26 compared with the previous year, while ticket sales topped £400,000 for the first time.

Hafren says its audiences are drawn from across the UK, with growth recorded across an area stretching from Tywyn to Wem and Bala to Brecon.

The theatre, which can accommodate up to 556 people, hosts professional touring productions alongside local amateur groups, National Theatre and Royal Ballet and Opera screenings, West End musicals and other events. It is also home to Mid Wales Opera and Cwmni Theatr Maldwyn.

Highlighting its wider role in the town, the report says: “Hafren Theatre delivers a unique mix of events, curated with our local audiences in mind, but appealing to visitors and drawing tourism into our town.”

It adds that the theatre has an increasingly busy meeting and conference service which is attracting more national clients.

The proposed town council funding would specifically help support Hafren's community activities, including programmes such as Art for Older People, Music for Babies and Toddlers, Singing for Lung Health and Yoga for People Living with Cancer.

The report highlights the financial pressure involved in keeping some of those activities affordable.

Art for Older People costs more than £15,000 a year to provide, including the cost of a local practitioner, materials, refreshments, heating and lighting. Participants are charged £5 a week.

The report says: “Yet, as we want to keep the charge as financially accessible as possible for our participants (£5 per person per week), the income is less than 50% of the cost, usually amounting to a loss of £10,000 per annum.”

Hafren also subsidises visits by local schools, offering discounts of at least £2.50 per ticket and free places for teachers.

“This is to encourage whole schools/class to attend a live production which has benefit to the curriculum,” the report says.

It estimates the discount results in a loss of around £200 in income for every group booking of 50 pupils.

Under the proposed agreement, the minimum £5,000 annual contribution would be used to increase public awareness of inclusive community activities and weekly classes, increase the number of community activities available and support local arts practitioners to work in Newtown.

In return, Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council would be acknowledged on Hafren's website and other digital platforms, as well as printed material including its What's On guide and summer activities leaflets.

The theatre would also provide the council with updates twice a year, in December and May, detailing activities, participation numbers and audience feedback.

The partnership would be subject to review, with either side required to give at least eight weeks' written notice of any amendments.