LONDON, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Unicorn Theatre, the national home of theatre for young audiences, is pleased to announce its first gala event to raise funds for its invaluable work with children and young people. As a registered charity, the Unicorn has to raise GBP500,000 each year to make its innovative programme of work happen. Many people know about the Unicorn's fantastic plays for children and young people aged from 6 months to 18 years, but not so many people know that in parallel to our annual programme of plays and workshops the Unicorn also offers a wide range of opportunities for young people who may otherwise never experience live theatre. Through innovative outreach schemes like our subsidised ticket programme and in-school workshops in London, we reach out to our local communities where poverty and disadvantage are real barriers to young people's aspirations. The Unicorn also leads the way in piloting innovative developments to make theatre as accessible as possible for children with disabilities, by offering adapted performances and special events. This Gala evening will raise funds to support this important work, while offering guests a fabulous evening of fun.

Juliet Stevenson, President of the Unicorn, said:

"I am delighted to welcome so many existing and new friends to the Unicorn for an evening of theatrical and culinary treats. The Unicorn is committed to enhancing young lives - by providing funded tickets for disadvantaged groups, opportunities for children with complex disabilities to enjoy theatre performances, and curriculum enhancing drama projects for schools. I am proud to support this important work which directly benefits some of our most fragile inner London communities."

The fantastically theatrical evening will feature a unique promenade performance by the Unicorn Youth Theatre followed by a sumptuous onstage dinner for 120 special guests. The event is designed to pay tribute to the newly completed Quentin Blake murals now adorning the walls of the theatre and to promote the Unicorn's fantastic future projects for children and young people. Quentin - one of the Unicorn's Honorary Patrons as well as Britain's best-loved children's illustrator - joins other celebrity guests including Barbara Flynn and Janie Dee in showing support for the national home of theatre for young audiences.

The Unicorn Ensemble will wow guests with swashbuckling sword fights and high drama as the on-stage dinner experience unfolds. A highlight of the evening's entertainment will be the auction of a beautiful bespoke sapphire, ruby and pearl necklace specially designed for the Unicorn by Barbara Flynn. With all this and a surprise musical number, the Unicorn Gala promises to be an enchanting and thrilling evening. Most importantly it will highlight the unique ways in which the Unicorn engages children and young people of all backgrounds in theatre.

Tony Graham, Artistic Director of the Unicorn Theatre, said:

"We are thrilled to be supported by so many friends, old and new, who understand the importance of our continued efforts to raise funds to enable our work with, for and by children who could not otherwise experience the magic of theatre."

About The Unicorn

The Unicorn Theatre is dedicated to the creation and presentation of great theatre with children and young people at its heart. It is a home for theatre made for young audiences by brilliant artists. Based in central London, the Unicorn makes and champions theatre that inspires young people to think differently about the world, listens to the voices of young people, giving them space to create, and show the world from their point of view.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Unicorn Theatre is an Arts Council National Portfolio organisation and has been awarded funding until 2015

The vision of the Unicorn Theatre is to be at the heart of theatre for children and young people in the UK - a national beacon of professional-quality theatre for, with and by children aged six months to 18 years. Based in our flagship theatre in London, we produce high-quality theatre and an integrated Learning and Participation Programme for young people throughout the year. Our aim is to be as accessible as possible and we have a pioneering Access Programme which welcomes increasing numbers of children and young people with disabilities to our Theatre. We are also now delighted to be able to confirm that we are part of the national portfolio of organisations supported by the Arts Council for three years from 2012 to 2015.

The Unicorn's main activities are:

- Staging a high-quality year-long theatre programme

- Hosting the best national and international theatre for young people

- Running a highly-acclaimed Learning and Participation Programme for young people, schools, families and community groups

- Setting an example of best practice in providing access to theatre for children with disabilities

- Subsidising tickets to ensure children and young people can make a theatre visit, many of whom are experiencing theatre for the first time

Our key aim is to ensure that no child is barred from theatre either through poverty or disability. We aim to lead the way in creating access to high-quality theatre for young people who suffer disadvantage, whether through our subsidised ticket scheme or through our comprehensive programme of work for children with disabilities.

    
                          For more information contact:
     Elliot Rose E: elliot.rose@unicorntheatre.com T: +44(0)20-7645-0546

SOURCE Unicorn Theatre