Midshire puts the drama back into local theatre

Midshire Business Systems Northern is pleased to announce its headline sponsorship of NK Theatre Arts, the all-inclusive theatre company based in Romiley.

NK Theatre Arts recently launched their new initiative, the ‘1000 Club’, which aims to get local businesses to sponsor the theatre £1,000 for a year in return for show tickets and advertisement in souvenir programmes. It is hoped these funds will address the current shortfall in funds. Any additional resources will allow growth and stability.

Midshire was introduced to NK Theatre Arts by Steve Dootson at Hughes Safety Showers, a customer of Midshire and fellow sponsor of the theatre.

Midshire Business Systems Northern will not only become a member of the NK Theatre Art’s ‘1000 Club’ but it will also support the theatre with all printing and document requirements, as well as providing a new colour photocopier for the theatre’s use.

Committed to supporting local organisations in the northwest region, Midshire already sponsors Thunder Netball Club and Macclesfield Town Juniors.

In addition, Midshire is keen to promote the theatre to the fullest. Having taken a walking tour of the premises, based at The Forum in Romiley, Midshire has purchased outdoor signage to help with the advertising of NK Theatre Arts productions. It is estimated that the year’s sponsorship will exceed £5,000.

NK Theatre Arts was founded in 1986 as an after school club in Denton, where it performed one show per year, and opened one night per week. In 1995 the theatre became a registered charity and expanded to three nights per week.

The theatre moved to The Forum in 2003 having agreed a 30-year lease with Stockport Council. Since then, the theatre has gone from strength to strength, and performed Quadrophenia at The Palace Theatre in 2013 having received sponsorship from Hughes Safety Showers and permission from Pete Townsend. The performance won a number of awards at the Manchester Musical Awards including Best Show.

Midshire Technology Sales Manager Stuart Carruthers said,

“Midshire is delighted to become the headline sponsor of NK Theatre Arts and will be working alongside the theatre over the coming year in order to ensure it can continue to thrive in the local community. We are dedicating our time and efforts to bring new technology into the group, including print, computer and visual equipment to enhance shows and performances even further. Some of our staff have been to see the recent performances and the feedback has been amazing.”

Currently, NK Theatre Arts offers weekly workshops in music, dance and drama for anyone aged 5 and above. Everyone is welcome, regardless of ability, disability, status or culture.

NK Theatre Arts participates in an Outreach programme called ‘Interact’, which works with schools, colleges and youth centres in the local area. The theatre works closely with schools to provide a number of different theatre-based programmes. Themed workshops bring a historical character to life, and can be linked to the National Curriculum. There are also a number of hard-hitting plays, which aim to educate young people in the dangers they may face. These plays are age appropriate, with different presentations being performed for primary and secondary school pupils.

NK Theatre Arts showcases many productions at the Forum theatre in Romiley. Port is being performed later in the month. Larger shows run for four to five nights, with a theatre capacity of 370, shows can reach over 1,000-person audience per run. The arts group produced 14 productions in the 2013-14 season.
The NK Theatre Arts team is headed by Darren Stannage as Company Manager and Kerry Day as Artistic Director.

NK Theatre Company Manager, Darren Stannage commented:

“This is fantastic news for NK Theatre Arts. As a Registered Charity all of the money that we generate for ourselves always gets ploughed into the day-to-day activities of the organisation, the work we do each week at The Forum Theatre with local Stockport Children, our outreach work in schools and youth centres etc. All this means that there is very little funding available for improving the facilities at our venue. 

Within a week of coming on board as headline sponsor of NK Theatre Arts Midshire had provided us with new lockable display cases and A-board so we can promote the forthcoming events outside the theatre in a professional way, as well as internal display cases.  All of our printing needs will now be taken care of by Midshire for the year, which is brilliant, and there is possibility of other office equipment, which will help make the Charity a little bit more efficient! We are looking forward to a long and lasting relationship with a fantastic company.”