‘Ticket Bank’ to offer free theatre shows in London

A new initiative will offer tens of thousands of free tickets for cultural shows across London to those most impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.

The Ticket Bank, a joint project from the Cultural Philanthropy Foundation and Cardboard Citizens, will launch on Monday 9 January and expects to make around 1,000 tickets a week available.

Seven leading cultural organisations have committed to the initiative so far – the Almeida Theatre, Barbican, Bush Theatre, Gate Theatre, National Theatre, Roundhouse and Tara Theatre – with more partners due to be announced in the new year.

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Each organisation has pledged to provide unsold tickets for theatre, comedy, live music and dance performances.

The Ticket Bank says it is working with charities, food banks and outreach programmes across the capital, to ensure the free tickets reach people and communities historically under-served by cultural organisations.

These partners will provide access codes direct to their programme participants to enable them to book the available tickets. 

Members of the public can donate to the scheme, with proceeds going towards increasing the number of tickets available.

Cultural organisations in London that would like to join the initiative are being invited to get in touch.

“I’m incredibly proud of the London arts and culture community coming together to offer tickets city wide to people who, through no fault of their own, are on or under a poverty line,” Artistic Director and joint CEO of Cardboard Citizens Chris Sonnex said.

“It is a real act of change, and it will give many people, who couldn’t otherwise, the opportunity to be entertained, to see other worlds, to escape and most importantly to dream.”

“Very rarely you come across an idea that is so simple and brilliant that you can't believe it doesn't already exist,” Cultural Philanthropy Foundation Chair Caroline McCormick added.

“When Chris told me his idea for the Ticket Bank, my response was as simple as his idea – we have to make this happen.”