Forest Forge is celebrating after securing £52,000 of funding from Arts Council England, alongside a new commission from New Forest District Council.
The professional theatre company, which is also a registered charity, has been creating and touring theatre for over 40 years, has been granted the funding to support several projects it will be delivering from November to July 2025.
The company has recently restructured its activity to place equal weight on three strands of work: professional touring, participatory activity and support of local artists. The funding supports new activity in all three areas and is designed to support Forest Forge engage and bring together audiences and participants from across the generations.
One of the projects supported by the grant is Forest Forge’s annual Christmas production, created in partnership with New Forest based Bumblefly Theare and with Mischievous Theatre. This year the three theatre companies are working together to create a family friendly version of A Christmas Carol, which will tour across the region from December. The funding will support additional performances including relaxed and sign language interpreted events. Full details of the tour will be available soon.
Forest Forge are also in the process of developing two new ‘Suitcase Story’ productions. These smaller touring performances will be designed for libraries, schools, care homes and fetes will be available to tour in 2025. One of the new productions has been supported by the Arts Council funding, whilst the other is a new commission from New Forest District Council’s allocation of the Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), from central government, with designated funds for improving the local cultural offer.
Kealy Whenray, Creative and Cultural Development Manager at New Forest District Council says: “NFDC are excited to help facilitate the growth of Forest Forge’s presence in the New Forest through our shared strategic objectives, not least our shared vision to develop a vibrant creative and cultural sector within the district. Through our allocation of the Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), from central government, with designated funds for improving the local cultural offer, we have been able to commission work that is energising for our communities, relevant to place and artistically ambitious. This project, excitingly, increases funding for rural theatre production, provides free community performance opportunities and improves access to creative learning for children and young people in the New Forest District.”
The Arts Council England investment will also support some research into another of the company’s ideas called Unexpected Places which it hopes to launch next year.
The Arts Council grant will also help support new drama workshops across the New Forest, including a new Act Your Age drama group for those over the age of 55 and a new active session for older people and pre-school children. These have also kindly be supported by Culture in Common and will extend Forest Forge’s already extensive participation programme.
Supporting artists and regional theatre makers is an important part of Forest Forge’s work and so the project includes funding for five developing artists to join the company to gain experience across the work. The company will be advertising these opportunities in the coming weeks and advise anyone interested to keep an eye on social media and the website.
Lucy Phillips and Jo Billingham, Co-Artistic Directors of Forest Forge say:
“We are extremely grateful to receive this funding from Arts Council England and New Forest District Council, alongside support from Culture in Common. We are excited for what is now possible and the difference we can make in the New Forest with this investment. Forest Forge has been through some significant changes in the last year and this funding provides an important opportunity for us to look to the future and to do what we do best – providing theatre and theatre making experiences for and with people in our community.”