Plymouth nonagenarian provides theatre trips for over 1,000 local children

Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) is celebrating the generosity of one its most loyal members whose donations have enabled around 1,150 local school children to visit the theatre, some for the first time. 

Joan Lucas, 94, is a huge theatre fan having been taken to the theatre for the first time at four years old in 1935.

In October 2018, she founded The Joan Lucas Fund in which she regularly donated money to enable local children, often from areas of multiple deprivation with perceived barriers to accessing the arts, to experience the magic of theatre for the very first time. Since setting up the fund, her donations have exceeded £12,000. 

Inspired by her time at grammar school in Birmingham, where there was a fund that allowed her to go to the theatre for nine pence on a Thursday afternoon, Joan decided to create her own, similar initiative. 

On setting up the fund, Joan said: “I have no family to leave my money to. I’m trying to do things with my money and find it really rewarding that I can do it. Hopefully, children who would never be taken to the theatre can come and see a wonderful children’s show at Theatre Royal Plymouth.

The Joan Lucas Fund has paid for at least two schools a year to see shows at TRP, supporting approximately 1,150 young people from the South West, enjoying productions such as Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, and The House With Chicken Legs.

Joan’s funding culminated this spring, supporting one final trip for over 70 pupils from Drake and Morice Town Primary schools to watch The Little Red Hen. Since seeing the production, the children who attended the performance have worked the story into their curriculum, sharing their favourite moments of the play during a session of TRP’s Tiny Tales community project - as well as creating a lovely thank you card for Joan.

James Wheatley, Membership Manager at TRP said: “We’re so thankful for all Joan has done for TRP and the children of Plymouth over the years. It’s been a pleasure to get to know Joan a little bit in my time here and to hear about her love of the theatre.

“So many children have been able to visit the theatre and see a show – in many cases their first experience of the theatre – due to Joan’s generosity. It’s been a joy to see and share their excitement. I hope that many of these children have had their love of the arts well and truly ignited. Thank you, Joan, you’re welcome back any time!” 

In previous years, Joan has funded bursary places for TRP’s Young Company, enabling young people to access regular workshops at the theatre, designed to build key skills and encourage young minds to explore the world of performance and live theatre making. 

Many of the children supported by her funding otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to visit the theatre, opening their minds to the world of live theatre.

To find out more about Joan’s funding, you can read her TRP story from 2021 here. 

To find out more about how you can support TRP as a registered charity, see more here.