Everyone for the Everyman fundraising appeal launch

Can you believe it? It's a year to the day since the Everyman Finale marked the end of one era and the start of a new journey for the Hope Street theatre. So today, all those who love it are being encouraged to get involved with the Everyone for the Everyman fundraising appeal. The appeal will both raise the last slice of the funds needed to complete the building, and a create a fund that will nurture new generations of Liverpool artists on a greater scale than ever before. Everyman and Playhouse executive director Deborah Aydon, who is doing a sponsored skydive, said: “The Everyman’s spirit is all about courage, ideas, fun and community. Everyone for the Everyman is a chance for us to take that as our inspiration and come together to do something bold, adventurous, creative or just fun. It could be anything, from running a marathon to hosting a tea party, and we can’t wait to see what people will come up with.” The theatres have created a special microsite, www.everymanplayhouse.com/ev4ev featuring fundraising ideas, how to join an organised event, how to create a challenge of your own via JustGiving, or simply donate directly to support the new Everyman (MADEUP quietly went for the latter). This week the Three Peak Challenge team ‘Summit Up’ – made up of nine Everyman and Playhouse staff - will tackle Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in just 24 hours, and  they hope to raise £3,000 in the process. Other sponsorship ideas include the ‘EVery Loser Wins’ quiz team, Every(Odd Job)Man, and you can also sign up to organised events, including the chance to abseil down the 150ft Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on August 10. On July 2 last year, more than 3,000 people took part in the Everyman Finale day leaving their memories and future hopes on luggage labels suspended above the famous thrust stage of the beloved Liverpool theatre. Since then Hope Street residents, visitors and webcam followers have been watching the site as the new theatre starts to take shape.  The new building will retain its trademark thrust stage, iconic sign and basement bistro with many new facilities, making the whole building a vibrant, creative hub, accessible to all. Here's the small print:The £28m capital project has already secured over 98% of funding, including £16.8m from Arts Council England, £5.9m from the European Regional Development Fund and £2.5m invested by the Northwest Regional Development Agency. In January, the first major donation from a Liverpool philanthropist - £200k from the Peter Johnson Foundation - marked the transition to inviting local people to get involved via the Everyone for the Everyman appeal.  Since then over 550 donations have been received and over £160k has been raised. For more information on how to get involved in Everyone for the Everyman, go to www.everymanplayhouse.com/ev4ev, call 0151 706 9124, or email donate@everymanplayhouse.com for a fundraising pack. To keep up-to-date with the creation of the new Everyman, visit the website at www.everymanplayhouse.com/NewEveryman or email ev4everyone@everymanplayhouse.com to sign up for regular updates. To support the ‘Summit Up’ team visit their fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/Summit-Up2012