REVIEW | 2024/25
MY FAIR LADY Photograph: Marc Brenner
WELCOME
We are thrilled to report another record-breaking year at Curve. While, like all theatres, we continue to navigate an increasingly challenging landscape, our dedicated team, freelancers, and partners have united to deliver truly spectacular work. From sell-out productions bound for the West End, to bold new commissions and celebrated revivals, to learning and artist development programmes that extend further into our city and beyond, we couldn’t be prouder of the breadth, depth, and reach of the work created here. All this work continues to inspire, connect, and resonate with audiences and communities both near and far.
Over the past year, we sold 265,000 tickets for performances in our LE1 home and more than 2 million tickets for MADE AT CURVE productions and co-productions touring nationally and internationally. We achieved an average occupancy of 78% across our Theatre, Studio Theatre, and Rehearsal Room 2 spaces, while our annual turnover reached a record high of over £18.5 million.
Under our MADE AT CURVE banner, we continued to offer a bold and eclectic programme of productions and coproductions. We were thrilled to bring back our acclaimed production of A CHORUS LINE, which kicked off a national tour here at Curve before a sell-out summer season at Sadler’s Wells. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE – a co-production with our long-term partner, De Montfort University –delighted audiences with its fresh take on this literary classic. We also premiered FANTASTIC FOXES, a new Curve Community production written by our Resident Creative Rob Ward.
Following an electrifying rehearsed reading in 2023, we reunited director Nathan Powell with actors Ray Strasser-King and Justina Kehinde for a full-scale production of Katori Hall’s THE MOUNTAINTOP. Our revival of Lerner and Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY earned widespread critical acclaim, introducing a new star in Molly Lynch, who played Eliza Doolittle. PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS brought swashbuckling festive fun for
young audiences and families, while our production of KINKY BOOTS – starring the one and only Johannes Radebe as Lola in his musical theatre debut – capped off the year with a wildly successful run, before embarking on a sell-out tour.
Our Creative Programmes have expanded significantly, both in ambition and scale. Over the year, 27,500 participants took part in activities designed for schools, colleges, universities, community groups, young people, families, elders, and artists. Now in its third year, our Neighbour-Hubs programme – supported by PPL PRS and Jon and Katey Jorgensen –engaged nearly 6,000 people of all ages.
Our Curve Young and Community Companies (CYCC) continued to thrive, inspiring us all. With satellite groups in schools and community centres across our Neighbour-Hub areas, as well as resident companies based at Curve, over 370 young people aged 5 to 18 came together regularly to create, learn new skills, and deepen their understanding of theatre. We remain committed to ensuring that finances never act as a barrier to participation; all CYCC Hub places were offered free of charge, with 31% of spaces at Curve supported by bursaries.
Local theatre-makers are vital to the lifeblood of Curve, and we’re dedicated to making sure our theatre is a space for creation, exploration, and development for artists in Leicester and the surrounding region. In the last year, more than 1,000 theatre-makers took part in our artist development programmes, and we provided 1,220 hours of in-kind rehearsal space to support the creation of new work.
Curve, like so many theatres, exists only through the generous support of our public funders, donors, and sponsors. We are incredibly grateful for all who have supported us over the last 12 months, particularly our principal funder, Arts Council England, and our landlord, Leicester City Council.
As we look back on this incredible year, we invite you to join us in celebrating everything we’ve achieved together. Your support is invaluable, now more than ever.
Chris Stafford Chief Executive Nikolai Foster Artistic Director
As Chair of this fabulous organisation, I am incredibly proud of the astonishing output both on and off our stages.
I said in the last Annual Report that Curve continues to smash it out of the park, and there really isn’t a better phrase to use for this year too. In the last year ticket sales, financial turnover, and participation figures reached an all-time high. Curve’s ambitious approach to making world-class theatre went from strength-to-strength, and we produced nine Made at Curve productions and co-productions. As always, alongside creating work for audiences in Leicester, we continued to play an important role in the touring ecology, and no fewer than twelve Curve on Tour productions went on national and international tour from Edinburgh to Beijing.
Over the past year, Curve proudly welcomed some of the industry’s leading producers and artists as part of our vibrant programme of visiting work. Audiences enjoyed beloved titles such as AN INSPECTOR CALLS, CHITTY CHITTY BANG
BANG, and HAIRSPRAY, alongside exciting premieres of new productions including SUPERYOU and MY SON’S A QUEER. Curve also reaffirmed its status as a destination for launching major UK tours, hosting the opening performances of TINA –THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL and THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE.
Our work onstage was also supported by a programme of accessible performances. Thanks to sponsorship from David Wilson Homes and voco Leicester, we delivered 132 accessible performances, including British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreted, Captioned, Audio Described and Touch Tours, Relaxed and Dementia Friendly.
Whilst the spotlight can often be drawn to the work on our stages, we are equally proud of everything that goes on every day across the building and in our local communities to nurture talent and build engagement. It’s also fantastic 20,000 local young people visited Curve with their school in the last year and over 19,000 under-26-year-olds took part in Curve-led activities over the year.
2024/25 is arguably our most successful year to date, but set against very real challenge. Our state-of-the-art building is approaching its twentieth year and now requires urgent capital investment. Whilst we have been able to deliver a year-on-year surplus, the significant rise in costs across the
board – alongside standstill and reduced public funding –has limited our ability to build adequate reserves to meet these now urgent capital needs. As we look ahead, without significant cash investment for our building we will need to review our business model in future years.
None of the work we do could happen without our principal funder – Arts Council England, landlord – Leicester City Council, and the commitment of our audiences. In 2024/25 we achieved our strongest year of fundraising to date, securing over £1million in donations, grants and sponsorship. Whether you gave in a post-show bucket collection, renewed or upgraded into our Supporters Scheme, gifted a ticket or gave a donation at checkout, or your organisation supported Curve - THANK YOU. Simply put, we wouldn’t be here today without this crucial investment and support.
Last but not least, a huge thank you must be given to both Chris and Nikolai for their unwavering commitment and dedication to Curve. Together, with the support of the Team Curve, they have steered the ship beautifully – and their improved ranking of number 16 in The Stage 100 is thoroughly deserved.
Sita McIntosh Chair
Left to right: Chris Stafford (CEO), Sita McIntosh (Chair) and Nikolai Foster (Artistic Director)
Almost 8,000 people were part of Curve’s Membership Scheme
£18,501,403 Annual turnover
23% of audience members travelled from outside of Leicester and Leicestershire to see a performance at Curve
£38
Average ticket yield
We supported 5 writers from our Neighbour-Hub areas
Almost 2.3 million attendance to all ticketed and non-ticketed activity at Curve and on tour – a 22% increase on 23/24
Over 370 young people took part in Curve Young and Community Companies every week
£2.25 million
Received in public funding (12% of total income)
Over 2 million tickets sold on UK and International tours
Over 2,800 engagements with elders in Neighbour-Hub communities
18 strategic partnerships with Leicester Primary and Secondary schools
Over 19,000 under 26-year-olds participated in activities at Curve
We sold a recordbreaking 265,354 tickets sold for performances at Curve
31% of CYCC participants received a free bursary place
More than 2,700 people took part in or saw new work as part of our Artist Development programme
78%
Average occupancy
We programmed 132 accessible performances, including British Sign Language interpreted, Audio Described, Captioned, Touch Tours, Dementia Friendly and Relaxed
Over 27,500 engagements with Creative Programmes activity
Over 500 artists participated in long term development activities
28% of our audiences attended a show at Curve for the first time
95%
Positive feedback for Made at Curve productions
Over 20,000 young people came to see a performance with their school
Almost 1,000 free or low-cost tickets distributed through our Community Ambassadors
Nearly 6,000 people engaged with Curve from our Neighbour-Hub areas
KINKY BOOTS Photograph: Johan Persson
MADE AT
“The technical team were exceptional” CAST MEMBER
Over the course of two months 19 De Montfort University students rehearsed and staged an adaptation of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE at Curve.
Adaptor and Director Cara Nolan • Set Design and Production Manager James Dainty • Costume Designer Edd Lindley • Lighting Designer Rhys Parker Sound Designer Dave Norton • Choreographer and Intimacy Director Lucy Glassbrook • Voice Coach Ellie Forrest
Photograph Kieran Vyas
38 performances in the West End (Gillian Lynne Theatre) selling 38,000 tickets.
28 UK Venue tour seen by audience of 168,000.
Director Nikolai Foster
Choreographer Shay Barclay
Musical Director and Musical Supervisor George Dyer
Set Design Colin Richmond
Projection Designer Douglas O’Connell
Costume and Puppet Designer Rachael Canning
Lighting Designer Ben Cracknell Sound Designer Adam Fisher
Magic Consultant Scott Penrose
Casting Director Kay Magson CDG
Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and produced with the permission of Warner Bros. and EMI Music Publishing
arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
Additional Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Additional Lyrics by Tim Rice
Adaption by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams • Orchestrations by David Cullen • Orchestrations adapted by George Dyer From the book by L. Frank Baum
Photograph Marc Brenner
“Theatrical
“A
Shrubsole
Total Sales and Tour figures (including Curve): 102,000 tickets across 97 performances including a sell-out summer season at London’s Sadlers Wells.
Over 5.2 million people watched the final of BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT, which opened with a performance from A CHORUS LINE.
2
UK and International tour to 39 cities including Glasgow, Swansea, Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Based on the bestselling story by Rachel Bright & Jim Field Director Sarah Punshon • Music and Lyrics Eamonn O’Dwyer
Photograph Ellie Kurttz
Photograph Pamela Raith
Adaptor Chandni Mistry • Director Cara Nolan Music Jude Taylor • Lyrics Jude Taylor and Chandni Mistry
and Movement Director Stacey McCarthy
Costume and Puppetry
“It is just an absolute joy to even just be in rehearsals for the show; Kitty and the Curve team make it an absolute delight!!! I could do this forever”
Cast Member
“It’s been a great privilege to combine my biggest passions; drama and football” Cast Member
“Being part of this production has been a wonderful experience and has embodied all that is fantastic about the city of Leicester and the Curve community”
Cast Member
A new play by Rob Ward
Director Kitty Benford • Set & Costume Designer Lauren Connolly • Lighting Designer Rhys Parker • Sound Designer James Simpson • Musical Director Adam Howell Graffiti Artist Uh-Oh! (Nick Shove) • Company Stage Manager Amber Jane Taylor • Deputy Stage Manager Lottie McLarin • Assistant Stage Manager Charlie Corrall
The commissioning of this production is supported by The Sir Peter Shaffer Charitable Foundation
Photograph Manuel Harlan
37 Community members shared the history of Leicester City Football Club, seen by over 2,100 audience members in our Studio Theatre.
STUDIOS
Played to 4,000 audience members in Leicester, Southampton and Stratford East.
Photograph
Kurttz
Over
Book
lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Photograph Marc Brenner
Pirates Love Underpants
“A treasure of a show”
We shared two special recorded performances of PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS at local children's hospice Rainbows – made possible thanks to CrossCut Media. In total over 40 families who would not have been able to visit a theatre during the festive period were able to enjoy the show free-of-charge.
“Fiercely fabulous family fun”
The run included 42 Relaxed Performances, as well as Audio Described, Touch Tours, British Sign Language Interpreted and Captioned.
Adapted by Brad Fitt
Director Cara Nolan
Composer and Musical Supervisor Jude Taylor Set, Costume and Puppetry
Deborah Mingham
Puppetry
Johnny Autin
BASED ON THE BOOK BY CLAIRE FREEDMAN AND BEN CORT
Photograph Jonathan Pryke
A CO-PRODUCTION WITH ROYO
11 sold-out performances at Curve playing to 9,400 people.
We launched the first leg of the tour to 9 UK theatres including Edinburgh, Manchester, Cardiff and Brighton; playing to over 106,000 audience members.
Rehearsal footage was featured as part of the NATIONAL LOTTERY’S BIG NIGHT OF MUSICALS on BBC One, which was viewed by over 2.7million people.
Director Nikolai Foster
Choreographer Leah Hill
Musical Supervisor George Dyer
Set and Costumer Designer Robert Jones
Designer Ben Cracknell
Sound Designer Adam Fisher
Casting
Harry Blumenau
CDA
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Original
Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell
Photograph Pamela Raith
ON TOUR
Made at Curve productions and co-productions visited 107 UK and international cities including Sydney, London, Birmingham, Belfast and Trieste. Selling over 2 million tickets worldwide.
MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE
Director Nicole Behan · Original Director Nikolai Foster · Set and Costume Designer Grace Smart · Composers Tennant and Lowe
Photograph Ellie Kurttz
AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN
A Curve production produced by Jamie Wilson, Jack Maple, Gavin Kalin and Jason Haigh-Ellery
UK Tour
Director Nikolai Foster · Set and Costume Designer Michael Taylor Choreographer Joanna Goodwin · Musical Supervisor and Orchestrator George Dyer
SISTER ACT
Produced by Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg in association with Curve
London West End and UK Tour
Director Bill Buckhurst · Choreographer Alistair David Set and Costume Designer Morgan Large · Musical Supervisor Stephen Brooker
GREASE
Produced by Colin Ingram for In Theatre Productions, Frankel/Viertel/Baruch/Routh Group, Playing Field and Curve
London West End
Director Nikolai Foster · Choreographer Arlene Phillips
Designer Colin Richmond · Musical Supervisor and Orchestrator Sarah Travis
COME FROM AWAY
Produced in the UK by Smith & Brant Theatricals in association with Curve UK Tour
Director Christopher Ashley · Musical Staging Kelly Devine Music Supervision and Arrangements Ian Eisendrath · Scenic Designer
Beowulf Boritt
Photograph Marc Brenner
Photograph Mark Senior
Photograph Marc Brenner
Photograph Craig Sugden
VISITING PRODUCTIONS
HANDBAGGED
Produced by Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch as part of the National Theatre’s Theatre Nation Partnerships
Director Alex Thorpe · Designer Katie Lias · Lighting Designer Ryan Day Arranger, Musical Director and Co-Music Producer Katie Marlais
MY SON’S A QUEER
by Bill Kenwright LTD and Paul Taylor Mills
Writer and Performer Rob Madge · Director Luke Sheppard · Music Pippa Cleary Scenic and Costume Designer Ryan Dawson Laight
TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL
Produced by Stage Entertainment, Joop van den Ende and Tali Pelman in association with Tina Turner
Director Phyllida Lloyd · Book Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins
Choreography Anthony van Laast · Set and Costume Designer Mark Thompson
Produced
RUN, REBEL
Produced by Pilot Theatre Director Tessa Walker · Designer Debbie Duru Lighting Designer Ben Cowens · Video Designer Daniel Denton
Photograph Johan Persson
Photograph Pamela Raith
Photograph Mark Senior
Photograph Manuel Harlan
& JULIET
Produced by Max Martin, Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page, Jenny Petersson, Martin Dodd and Rebecca Quigley
Choreography Jennifer Weber · Director Luke Sheppard
Scenic Designer Soutra Gilmour · Costume Designer Paloma Young
SILENCE
Produced by Tara Theatre
Director Abdul Shayek · Set Designer Rachana Jadhav
Original Costume Designer Rose Revitt
Projection Designer Rachana Jadhav and Simeon Miller
SUPERYOU
THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
Produced by Melissa M. Jones / All Awesome LLC with General Management by Anthology Theatre Productions
Director and Choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter · Music Supervision Wendy Bobbitt Cavett
Scenic Designer Anna Louizos · Costume Designer Cynthia Nordstrom
Produced by Chris Harper Productions and Catherine Schreiber Director Mike Fentiman · Set and Costume Designer Tom Paris Lighting Designer Jack Knowles · Sound Designer Tom Marshall
Photograph Pamela Raith
Photograph Brinkhoff-Moegenburg
Photograph Manuel Harlan
Photograph Johan Persson
CREATIVE PROGRAMMES
CURVE YOUNG AND COMMUNITY COMPANY (CYCC)
CYCC groups continue to go from strength to strength both at Curve and in our five Neighbour-Hub locations across the city.
• A total of 370 participants / 10,000 instances of engagement across the year.
• Curve hosted 347 CYCC classes, with an additional 182 sessions held in the community.
• 12 aspiring young technicians took part in our CYCC Tech programme.
• 31 percent of CYCC participants at Curve received bursary- supported free places, while 100% of CYCC Hub places were offered free of charge thanks to funding from PPL PRS and Jon and Katey Jorgensen
• In partnership with Braunstone B Inspired and the National Theatre’s Theatre Nation Partnerships, we developed a Musical Theatre company at The Grove Community Centre. We delivered free, regular classes to 15 local young people over 16 weeks (April–June 2024), culminating in a performance and trips to Curve.
• 347 different classes took place at Curve and 182 in the community.
Photographs: Jonathan Pryke (CYCC MT)
SCHOOLS
• Over 350 school groups – totalling over 20,000 ticketsattended a performance at Curve.
• Programmes for young people provided over 19,000 instances of participation throughout the year.
• Our free digital educational assets, including in-depth conversations with performers, films with creative team members and learning packs were viewed over 14,000 times.
• We delivered 25 workshops in alternative school settings. Partners included the Children’s Hospital Schools, Pupil Referral Units, Special Educational Settings and the Home School Community.
• Through the support of an anonymous donor, 10 Leicester City Schools took part in 16 workshops, 3 teacher training sessions and received over 1000 free of charge tickets to see a Made at Curve production.
• Working in partnership with Virtual Schools we created our own version of TWELFTH NIGHT which was performed at Magdalen College Oxford.
• We welcomed six students from De Montfort University and ran a careers event at Curve which was attended by over 120 people.
SPEAK UP / SCHOOLS TOUR TNP
• We continued to deliver the Speak Up programme in partnership with the National Theatre, working with five schools in areas of high deprivation in Leicester.
• We led 138 Speak Up sessions across five schools (2,844 instances of engagement) engaging 162 local young people.
• We presented the National Theatre’s schools touring production of JEKYLL AND HYDE in four Leicester schools. The show was seen by over 600 students.
EARLY YEARS AND FAMILIES
• Our Little Curve programme provided over 760 places for children and carers.
• Almost 140 people enjoyed free monthly creative workshops as part of CQ Earlies
“CYCC is just an amazing opportunity that is worthwhile.”
CYCC Hub Lancaster Academy Participant
“I have learnt how amazing it is that one show can bond people so much and really make a community. It is one of the best feelings.”
CYCC Act 10-13 Participant
“It’s good to come out of your comfort zone and make new friends.”
CYCC Musical Theatre 10-13 Participant
“I struggle with improv and putting myself forward, but CYCC is so non-judgemental that I can have more confidence to do so now.”
CYCC Act 10-13 Participant
“This initiative has successfully drawn the older generation back to the theatre, an experience greatly appreciated by all. Thank you for sharing this opportunity.”
Christmas Cabaret Attendee
“The experience of doing the show and friendships made have all been amazing, the singing, dancing and acting will stay with me forever.”
CYCC Musical Theatre 7-9 Participant
“Curve has given me confidence in myself and especially performing. My school have noticed a great change in my attitude to perform and learn especially in group tasks. I look forward to attending both my dance and drama classes too. Curve has given me a great stepping stone in my life ahead.”
CYCC Dance and Act 7-9 Participant
“It’s great to see plays with new ideas from local writers, it’s good that Curve is supporting this type of development.”
Neighbour-Hub Writers Showcase Audience Member
THE CHANGING ROOM (CYCC Act) Photograph: Jonathan Pryke
“This provision for people living with Dementia is absolutely fantastic and that is down to the brilliant people you have working for you.”
Elders Neighbour-Hubs Workshop Group Leader
“You can really feel the energy and happiness during these sessions. Even the volunteers look forward to them and join in.”
Elders Neighbour-Hubs Workshop Group Leader
“I would say the memories will last a long time and the experience was amazing.”
FANTASTIC FOXES Cast Member
“Brilliant project to truly bring together a wide range of members of the community to tell a story about our city.”
FANTASTIC FOXES Cast Member
“I’m really impressed by the catalogue of opportunities available to budding artists at Curve, and I look forward to attending things in future.”
Artist Development Workshop Participant
“Thank you for enabling the young people to create such an original and imaginative piece. The relationships you built with them were lovely and it really was beautiful to watch them relax, form strong bonds and grow in selfbelief. I genuinely think it was life changing for them.”
CYCC Participant family member
“The whole thing was very special and something they, and we, will remember forever.”
Virtual Schools Staff Member
“Life is extremely challenging for us as it is and we are often left wondering what on earth we can do week to week to keep our heads above water but knowing that our children are able to access such a wonderful resource as these CYCC sessions takes some of the heat out of our weekly struggles and gives us all hope somehow.”
CYCC Participant family member
COMMUNITY AND FESTIVALS
WORK WITH ELDERS
Across our programme of activity for elders in 16 settings in the local area and at Curve, there were over 2,800 instances of engagement.
CABARET AND FOYER ACTIVITY
Almost 300 people took part in two free of charge cabaret events in our theatre foyer. Cabarets featured performances from cast members of our Made at Curve companies, Leicester Musical Memory Box and Curve Associate companies Kainé Choir and Sidekick Dance.
AN INDIAN SUMMER
Presented in spaces across our building, over 2,200 people engaged with free and low-cost activities as part of our An Indian Summer Community Day
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
During Black History Month we curated a Scratch Night of performances from 20 local artists. We also welcomed more than 300 visitors to Curve for free and low-cost activities for our Black History Month Community Day which included dance workshops, craft making, and foyer performances.
NSDF
59 students came to Curve for the National Student Drama Festival
DIWALI
We celebrated Diwali this year with a series of free performances and storytelling for all ages.
SERENDIPITY – 100 BLACK WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE A MARK
We presented Curve Associate company Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage’s inspiring exhibition, 100 BLACK WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE A MARK, showcasing 100 portraits by five Black female artists based in the UK. This free exhibition was enjoyed by over 3,000 people.
LET’S DANCE INTERNATIONAL FRONTIERS (LDIF)
Curve continued to be a partner of LDIF presenting a rich programme of workshops, talks and performances. We were also delighted to welcome the National Dance Theatre of Jamaica to Curve for the first time.
COMMUNITY PRODUCTION
Almost 20 members of our Curve Community Company participated in our bi-annual community production FANTASTIC FOXES.
Photograph: Jonathan Pryke
Photograph: Tom Morley – An Indian Summer
Photograph: Jonathan Pryke – Engagement with elders
Photograph: Manuel Harlan – FANTASTIC FOXES rehearsals
Photograph: Jonathan Pryke –Black History Month Community Day
NEW WORK AND ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
More than 1,000 artists took part in artist development programmes led or supported by Curve.
Over 500 artists participated in sustained long-term artist development activities.
New Work activities, including performances, sharings and rehearsed readings engaged over 2,700 participants.
These activities included: Black History Month SCRATCH NIGHT and Curve Resident Creatives workshops and performances.
Our Curve Associate companies – including Kainé Choir, Sidekick Dance, Nupur Arts, Bamboozle and Moving Together – delivered over 360 sessions at Curve.
Sponsored by Howes Percival, our Neighbour-Hubs Writers programme, supported five aspiring writers, one from each Neighbour-Hub area, to work with dramaturgs and mentors over five months. Each developed a 20-minute play which was performed at Curve to an audience of 105.
We offered 1,220 hours of in-kind rehearsal space to artists to create and develop new work.
Black History Month Community Day
Neighbour-Hubs Writers Scheme
Black History Month Community Day
Neighbour-Hubs Writers Scheme
Photograph: Jonathan Pryke – Black History Month Scratch Night
FUNDRAISING
This was our most successful year to date, with over £1 million received in donations and sponsorship.
We established two new three-year partnerships: one with the Randal Foundation to develop a project exploring how drama techniques can support young people’s mental health and wellbeing; and another with an anonymous Trust providing free tickets to Made at Curve productions for over 1,000 Leicester school pupils.
Other trust and foundation supporters include: Backstage Trust, which contributed valuable support towards Curve’s work and operations; the Headley Trust, which funded staffing costs to deliver our elders engagement programme; the Garfield Weston Foundation, which supported all our Creative Programmes activities; the Martin Trust for Young People, which provided bursaries to CYCC participants; and the Boshier-Hinton Foundation, which enabled us to purchase equipment for a chill-out space designed for audience members with additional needs.
Leicester-based music licensing company PPL PRS sponsored our Neighbour-Hubs programme, Black History Month, and our Made at Curve Buddy Scheme.
Music licensing company PPL supported musicians in Made at Curve productions.
voco Leicester and David Wilson Homes supported our access provision, enabling us to offer even more accessible performances.
Nelsons Solicitors supported Curve and hosted four business networking events, connecting local businesses and theatre industry members. De Montfort University continued their support of Curve and sponsored our Made at Curve productions of A CHORUS LINE and MY FAIR LADY.
We were delighted to welcome two new corporate supporters this year. Howes Percival sponsored our Neighbour-Hubs Writers’ Scheme, supporting aspiring local playwrights. Mattioli Woods funded our Charity Link partnership day, helping us welcome local families to see PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS and enjoy a festive Christmas celebration at Curve free-of-charge.
We were humbled to be one of six local charities to receive a legacy donation of over £120,000 from Leicester resident and loyal Curve visitor David Williamson. David’s gift will be used to support Curve’s development of new work, investing in new stories and emerging talent.
Individual giving continues to grow; we welcomed supporters to our new Made at Curve Circle (£5,000+ per year) and Patron levels of support (£1,500 per year), enabling us to continue our charitable work on and off our stages.
Our Curve Run Challenge in October 2024 saw six people run the Leicester 10k or Half Marathon, whilst 20 people – including cast members of our Made at Curve production MY FAIR LADY and PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS –joined us in our Foyer in November 2024 for our six-hour Curve Dance Challenge. Together they raised more than £5,400 for our education and community work.
A heartfelt thank you to every individual, charity and company who supported Curve in 2024-25.
Photograph: Jonathan Pryke – MY FAIR LADY Christmas Cabaret
Photographs: Jonathan Pryke and Ellie Kurttz
PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT
PEOPLE
Team Curve included 81 full-time and 30 part-time staff members, as well as 178 casual team members.
We are deeply committed to championing diversity throughout our theatre both on stage and behind the scenes. 56% of our staff team identify as female, 21% of the workforce consider themselves as LGBTQ+, 18% of our staff identify as D/deaf, disabled, or living with a long-term health condition and 14% as neurodiverse.
Over the course of the year, 12 volunteers collectively contributed a total of 1,210 hours in support of Curve.
Almost 900 in-person and online staff training sessions were delivered, covering a wide range of topics including Dementia Friendly practice, Building Inclusion and Respect, Safeguarding, Health & Safety, First Aid, Personal Development and Performance Review, Inspirational Leadership, and Conflict Management.
Our Youth Panel – comprised of 10 local young people – met six times throughout the year. The Youth Panel continued to play a critical role in ensuring voices of young people shape and inform decision-making across the business.
We launched our Curve Buddy Scheme, to enable audiences with anxiety or particular needs to feel comfortable seeing a show at Curve. Six Curve Buddies have now received full training.
During the year we hosted seven work experience placements from our Neighbour-Hub secondary schools.
ENVIRONMENT
Reducing our carbon footprint remains a strategic aim of our Business Plan, with sustainability training part of all staff inductions and our annual appraisal process.
Together, we recycled 77,000kg of waste over the year.
All Made at Curve productions were produced in-line with Theatre Green Book baseline standards.
The Curve Green Team – made up of representatives from across the business – all undertook in depth Carbon Literacy training.
A member of our Board of Trustees became our Environmental Champion.
We introduced a Bike to Work scheme for all Curve employees.
CHORUS LINE Photograph: Marc Brenner
TEAM CURVE
Staff, cast, creatives, freelancers and volunteers
Aaron Tsindos
Aarti Rana
Abigail Matthews
Abigail Smith-Howell
Adam Cooper
Adam Fisher
Aidan Platts
Aimee Baker
Aimee Coe
Aishah Rao
Alana Perrett-Hughes
Alara Chaudhery
Aleeza Ditta
Alessandro Uragallo
Alex Love
Alex Rickells
Alexander Mallett
Alexandra Leone
Alexandra Morrissey
Alexandros Karipidis
Alexia Neckles
Ali Hassan Baz
Alic Cover
Alice Adams
Alice Berry
Alice Denton
Alice Woodward
Alison Woodward
Alistair Tomlinson
Amanda Riley
Amber Crowle
Amber Page
Amber Willmott
Amelie Davies
Amélie Wilson-Knight
Amira Bunduka
Amy Crighton
Amy Roberts
Amy Thomson
Amy Thornton
Anaiya Neckles
Andrew Berlin
Andrew Hallsworth
Andrzej Goulding
Andy Barke
Andy Fox
Andy Gibbs
Angel Rossell De Pablos
Anjali Patel
Anji Carroll
Annabel Marlow
Anne Evered
Anni Mossajee
Antonis Christodoulous
Archie Durrant
Archie Rockman
Ashley Gilmour
Ashley Holdom
Ashley-Jordon Packer
Barbara Grant-Bennett
Barbara Matthews
Benjamin Davies
Beth Henton
Bethan Keen
Bethany Hardman
Bethany Harrison
Beverly Harrison
Bhavesh Unadkat
Binoy Jacob
Blane Holford
Blossom Weal
Brad Fitt
Bradley Delarosbel
Brenda Heron
Brogan Boonham
Bronia Topley
Bronte Alice-Tadman
Caitlin Cooke
Caitlin Gambrell
Caitlin Harries
Caitlin Newcombe
Callie Barter
Callum Wills
Cameron Lee
Candase Fox
Cara Nolan
Carlo Boumouglbay
Carly Mercedes Dyer
Carol Breward
Carol Homa
Carol McGill
Carrie Hunter
Carter Riley-Lowndes
Carys Wood-Jones
Catherine Hannon
Catherine McGuinness
Cathy Tyson
Cece Diamond
Cecilia Young
Chandni Mistry
Charlotte Macleod
Charlotte McLarin
Charlotte O’Rourke
Charlotte Powell
Cheryl Darnell-Hayes
Chloe James
Chloe Rye
Chloe Saunders
Chris Bennett
Chris Easton
Chris Moore
Chris Richards
Chris Stafford
Christine Edwards
Ciara Daisley
Ciara Wynne
Claire Goodwin
Claire Ward
Clara Lockyer
Clare Geeson
Clare-Louise Appleby
Claire Simpson
Cllr Adam Clarke
Connor Maguire-Clark
Curtis Medley
Daisy Twells
Daisy Woodall
Damian Buhagiar
Dan Gardner
Dan Hayward
Dan Smith
Dan Trenchard
Daniel Bowler
Daniel Greggory
Danielle Mason
Danisha Mistry
Danny Newell
Daria Brzostowicz
Darren Day
Darren Ware
Dave Kennedy
Dave Norton
David Agnew
David Bennion-Pedley
David Callanan
David Coull
David Doidge
David Fiddler
David Harris
David Lewendon
David Pack
David Pinnegar
David Seadon-Young
David Shrubsole
Deborah Mingham
Dekka Omar
Densie Fletcher
Derrick Swallow
Devendra Modi
Diane Walker
Divina Pandya
Divya Patel
Djavan Van De Fliert
Donna Elliott
Donovan Browne
Dorcas Ojiakor
Dorothy Fisher
Douglas Finlay
Dylan David McPerson
Dylan Morris
Ed Barker
Edd Lindley
Eden Lorinson
Edward Hingley
Edward Turner
Eleanor Deacon
Eleanor McBurniez
Eleanor Williams
Elena D’Onofrio
Elena Green
Elianne Grant
Elisheba Stevens
Elizabeth Burrows
Ella Godbold-Holmes
Ella Lewin
Ella Thomson
Ellen Kane
Ellen Simpson
Ellie Preston
Elliot Barclay
Elliot Moore
Elona Laurie
Em Noon
Emiliano Kindsvater
Emily Burton
Emily Kate Perrett
Emily Rose Spreadborough
Emily Taylor
Emily Walker
Emily Wall
Emma Crossley
Emma Phillips
Emmanuel Mensah
Emryss Wicks-Gemmell
Eran Blue
Esther Hogan
Ethan Pascal Peters
Euan Davies
Euan Pyecroft Davies
Evangelia Vorvolakou
Evie James
Faith Burgoine
Faith Kabelo
Faith Lines
Farhana Shaikh
Felix Sürbe
Fin Adams
Fiona Moore
Flossie Wixey
Folakemi Odewale
Folashayo Opeyemi
Olaleye
Francesca Warren
Francescia Benjamin
Fraser Tew
Freddie Perkins
Freddie ThomasAtkinson
Frederick Perkins
Gabriel Zulerons
Gabriela Tylesova
Gabrielle Sanders
Gareth Prentice
Garry Izzard
Gemma Fleming
Genevieve Reynolds
George Dyer
George Shrapnell
Georgette Latouche
Georgia Boichi-Giovarni
Georgia Thomson
Grace Johnson
Grace Lavender
Grace Lowry
Grace Smart
Gurinder Hunjan
H. McLaren-Frost
Hana Gyorgy
Hannah Brookes
Hannah Dumm
Hannah Dunn
Hannah Holden
Hannah Leek
Hannah Willars
Harriet Bettsworth
Harry Barker
Harry Blumenau
Harry Crane
Harry Pearce
Haydn Cawley
Hayley Tamaddon
Haylo Phillips
Hector Murray
Helen Dobson
Helen Herniman
Helen Hill
Helen Kenney
Helen Russell
Hilary Lewis
Hollie Boonham
Holly Ife
Howard Hudson
Ian Moss
Imogen Howarth
Imogen Rose Hart
Isaac Gryn
Isaac Hayward
Isabelle Burdett
Isobel Roberts
Issi Roberts
Issie Osborne Izzie Cope
Izzy Sheldon
Jack Harper
Jack Skelton
Jack Stark
Jack Tustin
Jacob Martin
Jacob Warner
Jadyn Thompson
Jaimie Fergus
Jake Murphy
James Ansell
James Blake-Butler
James Cladingboel
James Dainty
James Gorman
James Humphreys
James Montford
James Rowe
James Simpson
Jamie Cumberland
Jamie Doncaster
Jamil Abbasi
Jane Colquhoun
Jane Gonin
Jasdeep Singh
Jasmine Beel
Jasmine Davis
Jasmine Hackett
Jasmine Jelfs
Jasmine Wilkinson
Jaspreet Kaur
Jazz Davis
Jemima Clarke
Jen Lewis
Jenni Tebbutt
Jennifer Lane Baker
Jennifer Pilbeam
Jenny Simmons
Jenny Skene
Jenny Wood
Jeremy Parr
Jerome Van Der Berghe
Jess Dobbie
Jessica Dawson
Jim Riley
Jo Dunn
Joanna Ampil
Joanna Goodwin
Joanna O’Hare
Jocasta Almgill
Jodie Whitchurch
Joe Gilmour
Joe McDonald
Joel Chigozie
Joel Fossard-Jones
Joel Hassall
Joel John
Joel Newton
John Heywood
John Joseph Boyle
Johnny Autin
Jon Gingell
Jonathan Corboz
Jonathan Dryden Taylor
Jonathan Goddard
Jonathan Laidlow
Jonathan Painting
Jonathan Payne
Jonathan Pryke
Jonathan Thomson
Jonathon Peace
Jordan Cort
Jordy Rowlands
Josef Shepherd
Joseph Allen
Joseph Evans-Green
Joseph Peacock
Josh Hartshorn
Josh Holyfield
Josh Kiernan
Joshua Lay
Joshua Pegg
Joshua Steel
Josie Campbell
Jude Bruton-Lang
Jude Michell
Jude Taylor
Judith Moulton
Julia Koziol
Julie Tomlinson
Justin Gladwin
Kanako Nakano
Kara Walker
Karina Dulabh
Kate Beaumont
Kate Harrison
Kate Miller-Heidke
Kate Parr
Kate Taylor-Davies
Katherine George
Kathryn Roe
Katie Donaghey
Katie Harrison
Katie Ireland
Katie Lee
Katie Marks
Katrina Dix
Kay Hardiman
Keanna Bloomfield
Keir Nuttal
Keith Evered
Kenedy Small
Kiah Bignall
Kian Posnett
Kick De Brabander
Kiera Madine
Kieran Barton-Constable
Kieran Patrick
Kieran Watson
Kim Johnson
Kimberley Birks
Kimberly Afonso
Kimberly Willson-Owusu
Kirsty Smith
Krista Norris
Krzysztof Sawicki
Kyle Allen
Laura Blackley
Laura Bos
Laura Haynes
Laura Hills
Laura Howells
Laura Medforth
Lauren CleoburyBradford
Lauren Haigh
Laurie Dempsey
Layla Hamill
Leah Swinbank
Leah Tookey
Lee Batty
Lee-Ellen Wilson
Lena Pattie Jones
Leo Hollingsworth
Leon Riley
Leon Smith
Lesley Perry
Lewis Osman
Li Li Peberdy
Liam Aston
Liam Hudson
Lillian Evans
Lillie Johnson
Lillie-Pearl Wildman
Lily Corkill
Lily Viney
Linda Dixon
Linda Fox
Lisa Brain
Lisa Welham
Liz Blyth
Liz Ellis
Liz Hirst
Lizzie Nance
Lizzie Owen
Lola Johnstone
Lorcan Murphy
Lorrine Douglas
Louie Wood
Louise Gold
Louise Watkinson
Luca Dinardo
Lucas Koch
Lucy Brading
Lucy Chamberlain
Lucy Pritchard
Lucy Ryan
Luke Lane
Luke Nash
Luke Rice
Lydia Bannister
Macaulay Ainge
Madalaine Owen
Madilyn Taylor
Maisy Taylor
Manuel Pacific
Marc Brenner
Maria Brito
Maria O’Brien
Maria Pavlou
Marika Tkacz
Mark Carey
Mark Henderson
Mark Johnson
Mark Kenny
Mark Marson
Mark Peachey
Mark Wheeler
Martin Bailey
Martin Ballard
Martin Hanley
Martin Pickard
Martin Pritchard
Mary Jayne Harding
Scott
Matt Dyas
Matt Wesley
Matthew Flanagan
Matthew Hilton
Matthew Jackson
Matthew Jackson
Matthew Kinley
Matthew Spalding
Max Millgate
Max Siggs
Megan Cliffe
Megan Ellis
Megan Haupt
Melanie Nute
Melanie Weeks
Mia Palmer
Michael Abiola-Leigh
Michael Crowe
Michael Taylor
Mike Dalzell
Miley Grace Dalton
Millie Rose Stephens
Milton Robinson
Minal Patel
Mireia Mambo
Mollie Booth
Molly Channell
Molly Lynch
Molly Power
Morgan Carter
Nadine Beasley
Nakay Shrouder
Nancy Rivera
Naomi Ireland Jones
Nat Speight
Natasha Chivers
Nathan Clamp
Nathan Obokoh
Neil Swain
Nell Martin
Nettie Johnson
Nick Campbell
Nick Furlong
Nick Lodge
Nick Smith
Nicola Allen
Nicola Thompson
Nikolai Foster
Olive Stafford
Olivia Byrne
Olivia Laydon
Olivia McCabe
Olivia Parker-Timms
Ollie Khurshid
Oluwatimilehin
Daramola
Órla O’Connor
Oskar Puanecki
Owen Eades
Owen Oakley
Pallvi Sharma
Pam Grant
Patrick Molony
Patrick Mulvihil
Paul Sawtell
Paul Wishart
Paula Konasionok
Peter Chandler
Peter Dyke
Peter Jackson
Peter Noden
Phil Lisseman
Philip Engleheart
Phoebe Small
Pippa Cleary
PJ Hogan
Precious Ogechi
Ikechukwu
Prem Masani
Rachael Frith
Rachael Matthews
Rachel Jayne Picar
Rachel Wells
Rahul Gandabhai
Rajan Soor
Ralph Pellymounter
Raymond MacdonaldHulme
Reanna Tookey
Rebecca Hume
Rebecca Smart
Redmand Rance
Reshma Patel
Rhys Parker
Ricardo Paulo
Richard Dixon
Richard Lewis
Richard Lodge
Richard Morris
Riley Hosking
Ritesh Manugula
Ro Redhead
Rob Hewson
Rob Madge
Rob Raskiovsky
Robbie McMillan
Roberta Bernardelli
Robin Potter
Ros Jones
Rosa Fernandez
Rosa MacGregor-Devlin
Rose Jennings
Rosie Boxall
Roz MacGregor-Devlin
Ruby Freer
Rukhsana Esmail
Rumi Sutton
Russell Hunt
Ryan Heath
Ryan O’Conner
Ryan Tewley
Saja Elmishri
Sally Champanery
Sally Henbest
Sam Paterson
Sam Waddington
Samuel Humphries
Sapphire Carter
Sarah Crisp
Sarah McLeod
Sarah Moyle
Sarah Poxton-Lestrange
Sarah Williamson
Sean Barrett
Sean McCabe
Sergej Romanov
Serina Mathew
Shadi Shirvani
Shanade Toussaint
Shane Curiel
Shane Forbes
Shané Thompson
Shannon Marie Smith
Shaquilla Anderson
Sharon Ogweno
Shaun Zedlewski
Shilpa Mistry
Shonatya Gogana
Siera Taylor
Simeon Fletcher
Simon Dawes
Simon Phillips
Sita McIntosh
Skye Binnersley
Skye Richardson
Sophia Chambers Smith
Sophie Cockerill
Sophie Linder-Lee
Sophie Prince
Sophie Yauner
Stacey Green
Stacey Henson
Stacey McCarthy
Stella-May Heron
Steph Modd
Stephanie Lysé
Stephen Beard
Stephen Chalmers
Stephen Madsen
Steve Furst
Steve Radcliffe
Stevie Burrows
Stuart Meech
Sue Jones
Suriah Thompson
Sydnee Thompson
Sydney Allen
Sylvia Addison
Tabitha Dodds
Tamika Gore
Tammy Rose
Tayla Baxter
Tessa Stanley-Price
Thomas Preston
Thomas Young
Tia-Bella Easton
Tilly Etty
Tim Rose
Toby Seddon
Tom Bayes
Tom Lister
Tom Marshall
Tom Nelson
Tom Slade
Tom Spencer
Tom Young
Tomas Lock
Tracey Jesson
Tracy Wyatt
Uday Patel
Vaughan Ashcroft
Vicky Richards
Victoria Coulton
Vijay Sharma
Vikki Moir
Will Luckett
Will Mauchline
Yasmin Ilarionos
Yasmin Parekh
Yasmina Berraoui
Yasmine Alyassin
Ying Ue Li
Yuki Abe
Yuliya Zlatkova
Yusufahmat Raheem
Yvae Rawle
Zachary Vara
Zachary Woodman
Zainab Rao
To discuss opportunities to support us, please contact our Fundraising Team on 0116 402 6345 or email give@curvetheatre.co.uk
THANK YOU
SPONSORS, CORPORATES AND PUBLIC FUNDERS
PRINCIPAL FUNDER
TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS
Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust
Backstage Trust
Boshier-Hinton Foundation
Garfield Weston Foundation
Headley Trust
Mackintosh Foundation
MADE AT CURVE CIRCLE
Ros and Alan Haigh
Jane Harris-Lock
Jon and Katey Jorgensen
CHAMPIONS
Angelic Photo
Annie Bannister
Anthony and Lisa Clare
Mike Dalzell
Nikolai Foster
Neil and Jackie Frettsome
Pepe Gallardo Mora
National Lottery Community Fund
Randal Foundation
The Martin Trust for Young People and the Hon. Ann Brooks Wolfson Foundation
LEGACY SUPPORTERS
David Williamson
PATRONS
Yvonne Burge
Linda Fox
Freeths
Andrea Gray
J.J. Murphy
Neil and Tanya Russ
Simon Harrison
Paul Hurst
JK Training
Barbara Matthews
Jeremy and Mary-Vere Parr
David and Diane Statham
Weightmans
The Gresham Aparthotel
Mike Griffiths and Sue Clodd
Alan Heggs
Peter Hollis
Helen Johnson
KAS Electrical Services
Jonathan Kerry
Katrina Kinch
Robert and Janie Martin
Steven Mather Solicitor
Lynne McCormack
Katie Normington
Paula René
Jim Riley
Jean Roberts
The Rowleys Partnership Ltd
Surinder and Vijay Sharma
Ali Sinclair
Chris Stafford
Philip and Alison Tasker
Nicola Wakeford
“Just when I thought I couldn't love Curve anymore. Thank you
for making theatre accessible for everyone.”
AUDIENCE MEMBER
“Curve is an incredible theatre. One of the best for accessibility, modern technology and amazing productions. If a show I want to see is on, I want to see it at Curve.”
AUDIENCE MEMBER
“Such an inclusive theatre.”
AUDIENCE MEMBER
“Curve do an excellent job. Not only do you have a huge variety of fantastic shows featuring some very talented performers, all members of staff both front of house and behind the scenes provide an incredible service. Well done to everyone.”
AUDIENCE MEMBER
CHORUS
Photograph: Marc Brenner
‘Curve has become a powerhouse of musical theatre’