More than £60,000 has already been donated by the public to help rebuild the Battersea Arts Centre after a fire raged at the inspirational venue last Friday.
Amazingly the theatre is already staging performances again following the blaze that saw 80 firefighters and 12 engines needed to control the flames.
The fire, which broke out late on Friday afternoon at the Grade II listed building, destroyed much of the Grand Hall, the equipment store and the venue’s offices. It also decimated the entirety of Gecko Theatre’s production Missing, which was in situ at the Grand Hall. No-one was injured in the fire.
Even while the fire burned, there was a feeling expressed through Twitter of a theatre community in shock at what had happened to a venue with a rich history in aiding new and experimental theatremakers.
Swiftly after a donation page was created to help raise funds to aid the theatre in covering any costs that would not be covered by insurance.
The £60,000 given by the public so far will be added to £100,000 donated by the Battersea Power Station development.
Writing about the response to the fire on the theatre’s blog, David Jubb, the Battersea Arts Centre’s Artistic Director, said: “The way people have responded to this event is quite extraordinary. I’d like to thank everyone for their incredible support for Battersea Arts Centre and Battersea’s beautiful former Town Hall. The Battersea spirit, encapsulated in its mid-19th Century motto – Not For Me, Not For You, But For Us – is all around. And all those who are directly involved have been lifted up by this support. Thank you.”
Fundraising for the BAC is ongoing. You can donate here.