Unicorn Announces Name of Main Auditorium

20 June 2005, London: The new £13.3m Unicorn Theatre for Children has named its main 340 seat auditorium, Weston Theatre, in recognition of major gifts from the Garfield Weston Foundation.

The Garfield Weston Foundation supported the Unicorn's project over a three-year period from 2001, in a strategic manner that helped Unicorn attract other private donors and generate match funding from public bodies such as the London Development Agency.

The Weston Theatre is the Unicorn's main theatre space, seating up to 340 in an auditorium capable of both epic and intimate work. The Unicorn's soon to be announced opening production and season will see the space used for a wide range of theatre including classic titles and contemporary works. The Weston Theatre will be formally opened as part of the launch events for the Theatre at the end of 2005. The new Unicorn Theatre also has a 120 seat studio theatre, the Foyle Education Studio, rehearsal room, foyer and café area.

Eva Woloshyn, Unicorn Development Director said: "Keeping fundraising apace with the cash requirements of an ambitious large scale arts capital project has particular challenges. Funds need to be available at strategic, often critical, points in the development and construction process. The Garfield Weston Foundation has supported the Unicorn with timely, sizable, donations that have been hugely important to ensuring the theatre's realisation. Naming the Unicorn's main auditorium the Weston Theatre recognises the Trust's unstinting enthusiasm and belief in the Unicorn."

Unicorn is seeking a final £0.9 m to reach its £13.3m target and other naming opportunities remain, including the 120 seat studio theatre (£300,000) and dressing rooms (£50,000 each). Unicorn is running a public appeal inviting members of the public, business and the arts to support the theatre by 'Naming a Seat' for £1,000 in the main auditorium, or purchasing 'gold' and 'silver' bricks for £500 and £100 respectively for the supporting wall. Names of individuals and businesses that donate will be displayed alongside celebrity supporters such as Lord Attenborough, Emma Thompson and Ewan McGregor.

Notes to Editors

The Garfield Weston Foundation
The Garfield Weston Foundation was founded in 1958 and is a UK based general grant-giving charity endowed by the late W Garfield Weston and members of his family. In the year to 5 April 2004, the Foundation supported over 1,800 applications with grants totalling £39.7 million.

The Garfield Weston Foundation: www.garfieldweston.org


The Unicorn Theatre For Children
The new £13.3m Unicorn theatre is the first ever purpose designed professional theatre for children in the UK. It is currently being built near Tower Bridge on Tooley Street, Southwark and is due to open in late 2005. When Unicorn opens, it will become a flagship theatre for children nationally and an international centre of excellence. The theatre harnesses the latest architecture and design to create a modern theatre space that will play, and provide arts education to over 100,000 children a year for generations to come. The Unicorn Theatre is within the More London development and Foster & Partners master plan for the area. Unicorn is designed by Keith Williams Architects.

Unicorn Theatre: www.unicorntheatre.co.uk
Unicorn Theatre press information: www.kallaway.co.uk/unicorn.htm

Further information:
Unicorn Theatre,
Eva Woloshyn,
Unicorn Development Director,
020 7700 0702
Eva@unicorntheatre.com

Kallaway
William Kallaway
020 7221 7883
William@kallaway.co.uk