RITA’s founding venues (Marlowe Theatre, alongside Birmingham Hippodrome, Leeds Heritage Theatres, Norwich Theatre and Newcastle Theatre Royal) deliver a £797 million+ five-year economic impact without day-to-day public subsidy. The alliance is proposing a £60 million matched capital fund over five years, released only against evidenced projects, that would unlock private, commercial and charitable investment alongside public money. Independent regional theatres are built to last, not funded to survive.

RITA welcomes the strong engagement with government to date on recognising its unique economic model and remains fully focused on securing matched capital co-investment to unlock private, commercial, and philanthropic support alongside public investment. RITA members are key growth engines and anchor institutions in their towns and cities. The alliance will continue to build the case for strategic capital co-investment, while continuing its ongoing work with government on recognising the sector’s self-sustaining model and establishing a standing data relationship with DCMS.