Make A Difference Trust to Take a Final Bow

Built on the legacy of West End Cares, (est. 1990), the Make A Difference Trust was founded for the sole purpose of supporting those in the theatre community suffering the devastating effects of living with and losing loved ones to HIV AIDS. In that time, the trust has raised millions of pounds and supported hundreds of projects and people. In just one year alone, January 2019 – 2020 we made grants totalling almost one quarter of a Million pounds.

We have built schools, medical centres, we have supported 56 Dean Street, funded self-testing for the theatre community, peer support, we bought fridges for people to store their meds, supported HIV positive children in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa, too many to list here, but a list of which we should all be very proud.

Over the past few years, the board of the Make A Difference Trust have been thoughtfully considering the changing landscape for people living with HIV and AIDS in the UK. While HIV has by no means gone away, we are so proud of how far society has come since we established the Make a Difference Trust.

While we as a charity could see we were no longer needed to provide funds for palliative care or medicines and thankfully those living with HIV began to see greater support than was available to the wider community in the early years of the crisis, there was still an exponential need for support amongst the theatre community. Support we were able to provide, thanks to the support that was shown to us, from that very same community.

While the loss to individuals and the theatre community in the UK has been heartbreaking over this time, the UK is one of the first countries to meet the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target, and London was the first global city to exceed the 95-95-95 target. For our community, the landscape has changed.

Then, 2020 saw a new pandemic; Covid -19. The effect on the theatre community was once again devastating, with theatres closing and the community losing their livelihoods. MAD Trust responded to this epidemic with an Emergency Relief Fund for those onstage and off. Once again, the theatre community came together, and we continued to raise funds via online events.

Whilst these events have continued to bring in funds, as pledged, every penny received from these initiatives, goes directly to help those in the UK theatre community affected by theatre closures as a result of the crisis. Almost all the money we raise is through our theatre events, and so, we have found ourselves with significantly diminishing unrestricted funds this year. Our last fundraising event was December 2019.

As a charity, we have never held substantial reserves, believing that the money raised was to support those in need. Now thankfully theatres are slowly reopening, at different paces and with different performance times. However, we believe it will be some time before theatres are able to support our events, which has made fundraising for the Trust unsustainable.

It is for this reason and with a heavy but proud heart that we bow out and lower the curtain on the Make A Difference Trust, taking with us memories that we can all cherish; Michael Ball wielding his razor at 2012 West End Eurovision, and Imelda Staunton with her marigolds, cleaning up the ‘blood’. Brian May popping in to play at A West End Christmas, the standing ovations, the after show parties the friendships and laughter we have shared. And what we cherish most, the good that we have done and the help we have given over the years.

Thank you all.

Melanie Tranter
Chair

1st June 2021

COVID-19 Vaccination of Citizens Who are HIV Positive

COVID-19 Vaccination of Citizens Who are HIV Positive

We want to help make sure that everyone living with HIV knows the information below to ensure they get the vaccine they deserve and to reduce the anxiety that exists out there. We hope this information will be useful for you and that you will spread the message if you are able to:

It is expected that the majority of patients will be invited for vaccination by their general practitioner. However, it is known that a small proportion have decided not to share their HIV status with their GP. Under these circumstances, HIV clinics should continue to engage with individuals and encourage and support them to share their HIV status with their GP. There are wider health benefits of this, beyond their HIV care or access to COVID-19 vaccination. In the event that the patient declines for this to occur, the HIV clinic should facilitate vaccination in accordance with Immunisation Against Infectious Diseases (the Green Book), most likely via a local vaccination hospital hub.

The Green Book (Immunisation Against Infectious Diseases) is clear that people living with HIV, at all stages of infection, should be offered COVID-19 vaccination due to the associated immunosuppression. These individuals, because of their underlying health condition, are part of cohort 6 for COVID-19 vaccination as defined within the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance.

Best wishes from the MAD Trust Team.

Stay Safe. Keep Well. Stay Healthy.

You can read more from the following sources:

NAT: https://www.nat.org.uk/hiv-covid19
THT: https://www.tht.org.uk/news/coronavirus-vaccine-guidance-people-living-hiv
BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56153510

ALL THAT JAZZ from CHICAGO – New Fundraising Video

ALL THAT JAZZ – A Stunningly Choreographed Video
from Chicago Cast & Band Members Across the World

Produced by TheatreMAD for the Make a Difference Trust
In partnership with Broadway Cares/Equity Fight AIDS
Supporting the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund

Featuring over 150 performers and musicians, reunited from across the world to present a truly unique, memorable and breath-taking performance of ALL THAT JAZZ from the legendary Kander and Ebb musical, CHICAGO.

Bringing together former Broadway, West End and International Tour company members to celebrate the 24th Anniversary of CHICAGO on Broadway, ALL THAT JAZZ provides plenty of razzle dazzle, featuring award winning stars that played the roles of Velma Kelly, Roxie Hart, Billy Flynn and Mama Morton including Ute Lemper, Sally Ann Triplet, Debbie Kurup, Bonnie Langford, Sue Kelvin, Ian Kelsey, Michael Greco, David Hasselhoff and many more.

The Make A Difference Trust continues to raise much needed funds to provide emergency relief for the theatre community during the current theatre shutdown. The CoVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund supports performers, technicians, front of house staff, creatives, production staff, theatre administration and support staff.

View it HERE and then please donate if you can.

YouTube video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXnq4wUawF4

TO DONATE ANY VALUE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD:
https://madtrust.org.uk/covid

TO DONATE from your mobile in the UK
TEXT SUPPORT TO:

70007 to Donate £2
or
70111 to Donate £5

 

Mormons on a Mission – to Uganda!

Some of our wonderful friends from Book of Mormon left the Prince of Wales Theatre on 1st June doing a virtual team run, trek, walk, swim or cycle in isolation, contributing each of their distances to the team’s total. The hope is that they will end their mission in Uganda at Butansi Medical Centre, built with funds from the MAD Trust.

Click below to visit their mission page to see how much distance they have covered so far:

Mormons On A Mission – To Uganda!

BSUF-Community-Centre-Butansi
BSUF-Community-Centre-Butansi

West End and Broadway Star Marisha Wallace releases “Tomorrow” from Annie to raise money for Broadway Cares & Make A Difference Trust

YouTube video

 

West End & Broadway star and recording artist, Marisha Wallace (Waitress, Dreamgirls, Aladdin) performs a rising and soulful cover of the timeless “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie to raise funds for The MAD Trust (UK) and Broadway Cares (USA). 100% of the funds raised from purchase and streaming of the song will be donated to both organizations to help all theatre professionals in the US and UK who are now unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the first time that Broadway Cares and MAD Trust charities have ever partnered together to raise funds. The video features many stars of the stage and screen including Katharine McPhee, Lea Salonga, Leslie Odom Jr, Ledisi, Beverly Knight, Nina West and Kerry Ellis and more joining in virtually from their homes.

Should you choose to donate, we would be truly grateful:

For UNITED KINGDOM/EUROPE or WORLDWIDE:
Donate any amount at www.madtrust.org.uk/covid

or Text “SUPPORT” to 70111 to donate £5 or 70007 to donate £2 (UK ONLY)

For NORTH AMERICA or WORLDWIDE:
Donate any amount at www.broadwaycares.org/donate

A Massive Thank You to Marisha Wallace @marishawallace for doing this initiative with love and for having one of the biggest hearts and generosity of spirit in the business. Your support is treasured and truly appreciated. You are making a difference to the lives of so many.

Melanie Tranter, Chair of the Make a Difference Trust said, “Since the Make A Difference Trust was established in 2008 the theatre community have joined together with us to raise funds for those less fortunate than themselves.  They have entertained us, made us laugh and cheer, sing and stamp our feet in evenings of pure joy. They have given their time, talent and love so generously to raise funds to support those in need. Now, it’s our turn to support them. Every penny received from this initiative will go directly to help theatre professionals in the UK who are affected by the theatre closures as a result of this crisis. We will work tirelessly to ensure grants are paid swiftly, and directly to those in need. “

CREDITS:
Video editing: Marisha Wallace/James Haslam
Signs Artist : Grace Frosen
Additional footage: James Haslam/Jim Glaub/Marisha Wallace

New Musical – CONFESSIONS by Kansley and Lidert

Come be the first to see CONFESSIONS, Kansley and Lidert’s break out new musical. After a sell-out concert in Melbourne produced by Home Grown, starring Tony Award winning singer Paulo Szot and others, the team have set their sights on the West End.

Kansley and Lidert want to reach out to tell you about the launch of their first original musical that will be playing at The Other Palace in June (17-22) for 7 shows as a workshop presentation.

CONFESSIONS features a cast of three strong, ethnically diverse, intelligent and talented women. They are female spies. Come and share their story as they step out of the shadows to confess their deepest secrets under the darkest circumstances. Follow their journey as they fall in and out of love, and discover the tangled web of lies that ensnares us and them. If you love spy dramas, secret agents, or international conspiracies then this is the musical for you with original songs that play homage to that genre.

In this Workshop Performance of CONFESSIONS three beautiful, intelligent and seductive female spies step out of the shadows to confess their deepest secrets under the darkest circumstances. Follow their journey as they fall in and out of love, and discover the tangled web of lies that ensnares us and them. If you love spy dramas, secret agents, or international conspiracies this is the musical for you with original songs that pay homage to that genre.

“How wonderful to have discovered the Kansley & Lidert song book titled ‘Confessions’. It was most obvious from the moment the music began that the listener would instantly be transported to a world of female truth! An empowering musical experience!” – Tina Arena.

“The music of Kansley & Lidert bring a refreshing sound that brings on a journey. Like a beautiful artwork it has detail and layers that you ears, hearts and minds want to keep revisiting.” – Alinta Chidzy.

“The wonderful surprise in Kansley & Lidert is that for all the nuance and heart in their work – and perhaps because of it – their songs feel both familiar and eminently hummable.” – Michael Falzon.

“Breaking the mould! It’s clear they have a desire to write musicals that better represent the diversity in our communities.” – Theatrepeople.com, Allison Hilbig.

Follow the team on Instagram for updates at @KansleyandLidert

To learn more about Kurt and Oliver check out their interview with Broadwayworld.com.

Times & Prices
Mon 17 Jun – Sat 22 Jun

Mon, Tue, & Fri at 8pm
Wed & Sat at 2.30pm & 8pm

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 45 minutes (including an interval)

TICKET PRICES*
Studio Floor: £20
Studio Gallery: £25
Studio Upper Gallery: £20

Age Guidance: 14+ (contains strong langue and sexual references)

BUY TICKETS

*All prices are subject to availability, may only be available on certain performances and are subject to change without prior notice.