Cherie Blair, and Dame Judi Dench are backing a £5.5 million
fundraising drive to finance the creation of London's first
purpose-built theatre centre for children on the banks of the Thames.
The building would become the new home of The Unicorn Theatre, the longest established professional theatre for children in Britain, which left its old base at the Arts Theatre near Leicester Square two years ago.
As well as a main 350-seat auditorium, the new Unicorn centre would boast a studio space for younger children, extensive educational and workshop rooms as well as areas set aside for exhibitions and other performances.
It could offer a theatre and education programme to more than 100,000 children, their families, teachers and schools every year.
The earmarked site lies in the shadow of the Mayor's new GLA building next to Tower Bridge.
The cost of the building will be £11million, however half of that money is already pledged thanks to the Arts Council's allocation of £4.5million and
£1 million set aside for the project by the Pool of London Partnership.
The remaining £5.5 million will have to come from other benefactors. Tony Graham, the Unicorn's artistic director, said: "We urgently need our own building - a place that will house both our theatre and our educational facilities. Somewhere that will cater for younger and older children - we need a Unicorn for the 21st century."
With such a glittering cast of supporters, however, hopes are high the funds will be forthcoming.
Dame Judi Dench said: "I believe the Unicorn is one of the most important theatre companies in the country. Why? Because it is their job to stimulate the imaginations of the young - the actors, directors, designers and artists of tomorrow."
Juliet Stevenson agrees. She said theatre "has the power to amuse, transport and enlarge young minds that are hungry for new experiences".
Thanks to Mike Kennedy for sending me this article which appeared on the This is London web site and to Jan M for sending the picture.