A crowdfunding appeal to help save a much-loved Hitchin theatre has already raised £2,000 in only 24 hours.

The town's Market Theatre on Sun Street started its fundraising campaign on Monday, aiming to reach a target of £60k to ensure the site continues beyond this Christmas.

Incredibly, in less than 24 hours, more than £2,000 has been raised from generous supporters in the town and beyond as the theatre fights to stay in existence.

With Hitchin Town raising more than £61k during their recent crowdfunder, hopes are high that the popular theatre off Market Place can reach its target.

However, there is still a long way to go to save the institution that, prior to Covid, produced live theatre every week, hosting a wide range of genres from comedies to thrillers and murder mysteries.

Yet, instead of reeling from the government's decision not to award it £60k from an Arts Council cultural recovery grant as part of the governments £1.57 billion arts rescue package, the Hitchin theatre decided to act, launching a crowdfunding campaign.

Theatre manager Glyn Doggett said: "These are desperate times for us as a small independent business. We were really banking on receiving a grant from the government and Monday's news that we have not been successful has come as a massive blow.

"Covid has hit the theatre hard and we are now asking for financial support for the first time in our 24-year history.

"The Adult Panto and children's Christmas show on tour and in Hitchin are usually our biggest earners and what keeps us going throughout the year.

"The uncertainty with how many audiences will attend this year and the reduced capacity means that without extra financial support none of our current plans will provide enough income to see us beyond February 2021."

Th theatre still plans run their Adult Panto in Hitchin but not on tour. They also aim to produce a virtual pantomime for the schools in our area they usually visit as they won't be able to perform to them in person this winter.

Glyn added: "With everyone's in help in reaching the target we can hopefully get through this difficult time and hopefully still be running by this time next year."

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