Birmingham Rep has announces it has been awarded £3.047m from Arts Council England’s Creative Foundations Fund to support essential works to its roof, including the removal of RAAC in the original roof structure over the oldest parts of the building.

The grant will cover 90% of the capital costs.

As well as upgrading the fabric of the building, the proposed works will significantly enhance environmental performance, improve insulation and reduce energy usage.

During the construction works, which are scheduled over an eight-month period from February to October 2027, The Rep will remain open and will continue to produce and present a theatre programme in The Studio. The main 800-seat auditorium, The House, will be closed temporarily. The theatre’s Talent Development and Creative Learning programmes, which work with hundreds of children, young people, adults and artists in the building and across the city, will continue as normal.

The Rep’s commercial events subsidiary Unique Venues Birmingham (UVB) will also continue to operate from its usual portfolio of spaces across The Rep and Library of Birmingham.

The Arts Council award will cover the capital costs of the project only. A public fundraising campaign will be launched in due course to raise vital funding for revenue losses accrued during the construction period, including support for The Rep’s wider charitable mission while programme surpluses are not available to support it in the usual way.

Full details of the fundraising campaign will be announced in the coming weeks.

This funding represents a vital investment into the longevity of one of Birmingham’s most important cultural venues.

For more information about The Rep visit birmingham-rep.co.uk