We are delighted to share that we have received a six-figure funding commitment from our local authority, in a significant vote of confidence for the role of culture in local communities and economies.

We have been granted £150,000 over three years by Tewkesbury Borough Council in an agreement which officials say “builds on success.”

Councillor Richard Stanley, Lead Member for Economic Development and Leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council, said:

“The Roses Theatre is a huge part of our community and a real asset to the borough. It plays a vital role in local life and the economy, already bringing £2.1m into the town and surrounding area every year. This investment builds on that success, giving the theatre the stability to continue to grow as a vibrant cultural hub.”

“A Fantastic Opportunity”

Following our 50th anniversary celebrations in 2025, we’ve continued to strengthen our work with the local community alongside our programme of live entertainment.

Recent highlights include:

• Supporting a wide range of community groups, including our free knitting group, Roses Choir, Sing for Health & Wellbeing, quiz nights and Open Mic Nights
• Growing our successful youth theatre programme, Roses Young Creatives
• Hosting the opening night of Tewkesbury’s Big Weekend in May
• Partnering with Tewkesbury’s Medieval Festival to bring back the much-loved town centre parade in July
• Launching our first ever Roses Garden Festival in August

More than 500 people each week benefit from our community-facing sessions, bringing together children, young people, adults and older people. We also welcome more than 80,000 people through our doors each year for our productions and events, with around a third travelling to Tewkesbury from outside the borough, including from Birmingham, Warwickshire, Bristol, Wales and beyond.

As a registered charity, this support from Tewkesbury Borough Council is particularly important. 80% of our tickets sales go to performers. Nonetheless, we are thriving creatively.

“2026 has been such an exciting year for The Roses and Tewkesbury,” says Derek Bond, who was appointed Artistic Director in September 2025.

“We’ve enjoyed a 13% increase in ticket sales year on year and achieved a £2.26m impact on the local economy. Our partnership with the Borough Council is such a fantastic opportunity to redouble this growth and really set Tewkesbury’s culture and economy on the path to a vibrant future.”

“A Vital Role in Local Life”

The funding has been agreed at a time of widespread reduction in local authority funding for the arts, placing Tewkesbury at the forefront of renewed community investment – in-keeping with its priority of “supporting people and strengthening communities.”

Councillor Stanley added:

“The Roses already delivers a fantastic programme and plays a vital role in local life and the economy. Tens of thousands of people attend its events every year, including its annual pantomime – which last year broke sales records.

“This investment builds on that success in bringing people together, nurturing local talent and strengthening the town’s identity.”

We hope that this refreshed focus on culture in Tewkesbury, which aligns with a new strategic approach being developed at The Roses, will help build further long-term links with Arts Council England and other funding bodies.

“The cost of shows has risen by 67% in the last year alone,” explains Derek.

“That places more demands than ever on theatres and funders to act efficiently, creatively and collaboratively to ensure we can continue to bring the economic, cultural and wellbeing benefits of live theatre to our towns and communities.

“This funding from Tewkesbury Borough Council is a remarkable down payment on making our town an even more magical place to be.”