Support us
We need your help to secure the future of Gosforth Civic Theatre (GCT).
GCT is run by, and home to, Liberdade Community Development Trust, who have worked with people with learning disabilities and people who are neurodivergent since 2003. GCT is more than somewhere to see a show; it has become part of everyday life in Gosforth, somewhere that is open to all.
Places like this don't just happen. They exist because a community decides they matter. If GCT matters to you, whether you come here or simply value knowing it's here, there are many ways to play a part. ​You might attend events, have coffee at our cafe, get married here, become a member, name a seat, run an event to help fundraise or join our new Giving Circle - you really can make a difference.​​
How can you help?
Individual
Giving
Make a donation yourself, hit the donate button, send us a cheque or drop some cash in our donation boxes in the building.
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Corporate Giving or Sponsorship Opportunities
There are opportunities to sponsor events, volunteers projects and equipment, or become a corporate partner. Please send an email to jennifer@gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk if you're interested.
Run a
Fundraising Event
Run an event or incentive to encourage others to give, such as coffee mornings, dress down days, sporting activities, Craft Sessions, or any other ideas you may have. Then donate the money to us either online, by cheque or in person.
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Join our Membership Scheme
Join our community of GCT Champions & Trailblazers and get exclusive access to advanced tickets, 10% off at GCT cafe, and an invitation to our annual members' events.
"Only at the Gosforth Civic Theatre can my daughter do a Taylor Swift dance class in the afternoon and I can watch a gripping production for Refugee Week with folk songs and tales of human cargo with Matthew Crampton in the evening."
Umi, Audience Member
The situation
Historically society has created places for people with learning disabilities to go, this has meant that this group of people are often segregated with few opportunities to demonstrate their social worth. This segregation has also meant members of the public have often had few or no opportunities to get to know people with learning disabilities, therefore fear of, and misconceptions about people with learning disabilities have developed.
The solution
We have always aimed to raise the publics expectations of what people with learning disabilities can achieve. We do this by creating high quality performance and film work for a public audience. Now we also have our own 200 seat theatre that provides a relaxed opportunity to bring people with learning disabilities and members of the public together on a daily basis. We programme high quality theatre, dance, cinema and music and sell great coffee for everyone, in return we get social change.
The aims
1. To bring more local people and people with learning disabilities together in a building that provides great art for everyone.
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2. To provide a model that shows how other organisation can use an entrepreneurial approach to solve social problems.
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3. To provide cultural and community activities for everyone to enjoy, supporting artists and the wider cultural community.
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4. To regenerate the building to become an asset the heart of the local community
The impact
The impact of our work will be two fold:
1 People with learning disabilities will have the opportunity to proactively and positively shape how the general public view them. This is a clear societal benefit and a model that can be replicated by other organisations. This also has personal impact by building on self esteem and promotes health and wellbeing.
2 Local people of all backgrounds will have a theatre and space where they can come together, enjoy performance, film, and music and use as an important social hub.
Learn more about who we are
Gosforth Civic Theatre is the only public-facing theatre in the UK founded and guided by people with learning disabilities. Our aim is to reduce social exclusion and division by bringing people together through shared cultural, creative, and community activity, while creating meaningful opportunities for people with learning disabilities to participate, work, and contribute.