Theatre Support Fund + ‘The Show Must Go On’

THEATRE SUPPORT FUND+ ‘THE SHOW MUST GO ON’

The Theatre Support Fund & ‘The Show Must Go On’ t-shirt has been created in response to the Corona Virus Pandemic which, when the Government closed the theatre industry caused massive disruption to the lives of thousands of people working in the theatre industry.

The shirt design is an amalgamation of the world famous branding of 16 of the biggest musicals in the West End.

All the shows and producers are behind the project and have kindly allowed us to use their branding.  We’ve aimed to create a unique item with all of these shows side by side, in unity, longing for a time when ‘the show can go on’ again.

The shirts are available on our newly established (and soon to be launched) website www.theatresupportfund.co.uk.  If anyone is interested in a first look, it’s currently online, but password protected.  The password is ‘presspreview1’

The shirts are currently in production.  Social distancing and self isolation have created slightly longer lead times, but we hope to have the items after the Early May Bank Holiday weekend to ship.

The website will be open for orders from 8am on Wednesday 6th May.

The t-shirts will retail at £14 with 100% of the profits going directly to the charities.

We are having all of the items produced in the UK, using sustainable printing methods.  The t-shirt printing process uses non toxic, vegan inks and dyes thus making the products as environmentally friendly as they can be.

The project has been established and is being run by 2 friends, Chris Marcus and Damien Stanton.  Chris jointly runs ‘MarcusHall Props’ which is a Props Supervising and prop making company and works on many shows in the West End.  Damien works both as an Assistant Stage Manager and on Graphics and Design at MarcusHall Props.

The proceeds from the project will be split between Acting for Others and the Fleabag Support Fund who are providing financial aid to to people working in the theatre industry who are experiencing hardship as a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic. As well as the NHS COVID-19 Urgent Appeal.

The project has been bought to life by the West End theatre community and everyone has given their time for free.

The shows taking part in the project are:

Tina, The Tina Turner Musical

Dear Evan Hansen

Everyone’s Talking about Jamie

Six The Musical

Hamilton

The Book of Mormon

Wicked

Matilda The Musical

& Juliet

Les Miserables

The Prince of Egypt

The Lion King

Come From Away

The Phantom of the Opera

Mary Poppins

Mamma Mia!

We would like to thank;

All of the Producers of the participating shows for agreeing to allow their branding to be part of the project.

Everyone at the various agencies who provided us with artwork and graphics.

James and the team at Sine Media,

Fray Studio for animation for Social Media

The SE London residing members of the theatre community who have agreed to help with packing shirts once orders are placed.

Website

www.theatresupportfund.co.uk