Hackney Empire launches Pay It Forward scheme for local families in need this Easter
Hattie Fisk
Monday, February 28, 2022
The scheme is offering free tickets to local families, who would otherwise not afford it, to see The Gruffalo at Hackney Empire between 6 and 8 April.
Courtesy Tall Stories
Tall Stories and Hackney Empire are offering local families in need a free ticket to see The Gruffalo, paid for by fellow audience members in a Pay It Forward scheme.
Hackney Empire’s audiences will have the opportunity to donate the price of a theatre ticket for The Gruffalo (or multiple tickets) to give to local families who wouldn’t usually be able to afford a trip to the theatre.
Based on the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Tall Stories have created an adaptation of The Gruffalo, following Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood.
Local community organisations including the Hackney Marsh Partnership (and their Concorde Youth Hub on the Kingsmead Estate and Stoke Newington Youth Hub on the Milton Garden Estate), Hackney Migrant Centre, and E5 Baby and Children Bank are also collaborating with Tall Stories and Hackney Empire as part of the project.
Beautine Wester, the founder of E5 Baby and Children Bank, is delighted to be involved with The Gruffalo: Pay It Forward saying: ‘What a great initiative. It will benefit a lot of our families, who do not have disposable incomes and are living on the breadline, to afford a show. Many are young carers and live in one-bedroom temporary accommodation.
They have seen and experienced terrible domestic violence, poverty, hunger and school detentions due to many factors. This initiative will help them mentally and put a spring in their feet!!’