Brick or Treat: Drill Hall fundraising continues with action-packed autumn

Up and coming talent, as well as household names in comedy, music and theatre, will take centre stage at Lincoln Drill Hall as the charity-run arts centre aims to raise £130,000.

The venue said it needs to raise more money after a series of reductions in public funding. As previously reported, Lincoln Drill Hall reached the £20,000 milestone in its fundraising campaign this summer to save the venue from closure.

A Pay What You Decide scheme will once again be in place for a number of shows within the centre’s packed autumn programme, which begins in early September.

Tickets are now available for a variety of performances including comedians Mark Watson and Jason Byrne, as well as Jay Foreman’s Disgusting Songs for Revolting Children

Visitors and supporters can ‘Be a Brick’ and ‘buy a brick’ on a colourful virtual wall to show their support for £10 or £50 per year. Over 1,200 bricks have been purchased so far and, along with some crucial grants, the total raised currently stands at over £82,000.

Chris Kirkwood, CEO at Lincoln Drill Hall, said: “Autumn is the perfect time to re-energise after a busy summer, but as we get closer to Halloween, it’s important to remind people that we still need their support by saying ‘Brick or Treat’!

“There are no tricks keeping Lincoln Drill Hall going; just a lot of ‘bricks’, that is to say; people who are pledging their support to keep a wide range of fantastic shows, arts and community events in the heart of Lincoln.”

Autumn season highlights

• Matt Richardson, Thomas Green and MC Tudur Owen will kick start the autumn season for the Red Herring Comedy Club on September 7
• Comedian Griff Rhys Jones will perform his new stand-up show Griff Rhys Jones: All Over the Place on September 12
• Celebrate all things Sir Elton John with Crocodile Rock on September 13. It stars one of the UK’s most acclaimed Elton tribute artists alongside a live eight-piece band
• Jay Foreman’s Disgusting Songs for Revolting Children will entertain children of all ages on September 14
• Presenter David Starkey will expire the British Monarchy through the ages on September 17
• Multi-award winning actor will bring his stand-up act, Dave Johns: From Byker to the BAFTAs on September 27
• A concert on October 6 led by popular violinist Sophie Rosa. Sinfonia Viva will feature songs by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Grieg and Suk and is co-produced with Orchestras Live
• The world’s number touring ABBA tribute production ABBA Mania will bring the best loved hits to Lincoln for a party on October 12
• Red Earth Theatre: Soonchild is a captivating performance set somewhere north of the Artic Circle that tells the story of a shaman on a special journey to find the World Songs for Soonchild. This Pay What You Decide event takes place on October 13
• The Unthanks – The Emily Bronte Song Cycle and Special Guests will feature the re-telling of 10 of Bronte’s poems in song form on October 17
• Comedian Mark Watson will perform his Infinite Show on October 19
• Children aged five, particularly learning disabled children and young ones on the autistic spectrum, will be immersed in the world of Patience, Bird and Clanky Jane in the American Dust Bowl. Bamboozle Theatre: Pulse is a Pay What You Decide event on October 22
• Lovers of disco can dance the night away at Boogie Wonderland on October 26
• Britain’s most popular soprano will host an evening of song, reminiscences and chat – An Audience with Lesley Garrett – on November 3
• Historian Lucy Worsley will host an illustrated talk exploring the life of Queen Victoria on November 6
• An acoustic performance of contemporary greats and classic hits from Barbara Dickson and pianist Nick Holland on November 7
• Comedian Jason Byrne will perform his brand new show ‘Wrecked But Ready’ on November 8
• Former Britain’s Got Talent act and comedian Daliso Chaponda will perform his daring new show ‘Blah Blah Blacklist’ on November 15