Unicorn Theatre Presents its Inaugural Fundraising Gala Dinner, Hosted by Juliet Stevenson, on Thursday 12 May 2011

LONDON, May 12, 2011 - Unicorn Theatre, the national home of theatre for young audiences, is
pleased to announce its first gala event to raise funds for its invaluable
work with children and young people. As a registered charity, the Unicorn has
to raise GBP500,000 each year to make its innovative programme of work
happen. Many people know about the Unicorn's fantastic plays for children and
young people aged from 6 months to 18 years, but not so many people know that
in parallel to our annual programme of plays and workshops the Unicorn also
offers a wide range of opportunities for young people who may otherwise never
experience live theatre. Through innovative outreach schemes like our
subsidised ticket programme and in-school workshops in London, we reach out
to our local communities where poverty and disadvantage are real barriers to
young people's aspirations. The Unicorn also leads the way in piloting
innovative developments to make theatre as accessible as possible for
children with disabilities, by offering adapted performances and special
events. This Gala evening will raise funds to support this important work,
while offering guests a fabulous evening of fun.

Juliet Stevenson, President of the Unicorn, said:

"I am delighted to welcome so many existing and new friends to the
Unicorn for an evening of theatrical and culinary treats. The Unicorn is
committed to enhancing young lives - by providing funded tickets for
disadvantaged groups, opportunities for children with complex disabilities to
enjoy theatre performances, and curriculum enhancing drama projects for
schools. I am proud to support this important work which directly benefits
some of our most fragile inner London communities."

The fantastically theatrical evening will feature a unique promenade
performance by the Unicorn Youth Theatre followed by a sumptuous onstage
dinner for 120 special guests. The event is designed to pay tribute to the
newly completed Quentin Blake murals now adorning the walls of the theatre
and to promote the Unicorn's fantastic future projects for children and young
people. Quentin - one of the Unicorn's Honorary Patrons as well as Britain's
best-loved children's illustrator - joins other celebrity guests including
Barbara Flynn and Janie Dee in showing support for the national home of
theatre for young audiences.

The Unicorn Ensemble will wow guests with swashbuckling sword fights and
high drama as the on-stage dinner experience unfolds. A highlight of the
evening's entertainment will be the auction of a beautiful bespoke sapphire,
ruby and pearl necklace specially designed for the Unicorn by Barbara Flynn.
With all this and a surprise musical number, the Unicorn Gala promises to be
an enchanting and thrilling evening. Most importantly it will highlight the
unique ways in which the Unicorn engages children and young people of all
backgrounds in theatre.

Tony Graham, Artistic Director of the Unicorn Theatre, said:

"We are thrilled to be supported by so many friends, old and new, who
understand the importance of our continued efforts to raise funds to enable
our work with, for and by children who could not otherwise experience the
magic of theatre."

About The Unicorn

The Unicorn Theatre is dedicated to the creation and presentation of
great theatre with children and young people at its heart. It is a home for
theatre made for young audiences by brilliant artists. Based in central
London, the Unicorn makes and champions theatre that inspires young people to
think differently about the world, listens to the voices of young people,
giving them space to create, and show the world from their point of view.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Unicorn Theatre is an Arts Council National Portfolio organisation
and has been awarded funding until 2015

The vision of the Unicorn Theatre is to be at the heart of theatre for
children and young people in the UK - a national beacon of
professional-quality theatre for, with and by children aged six months to 18
years. Based in our flagship theatre in London, we produce high-quality
theatre and an integrated Learning and Participation Programme for young
people throughout the year. Our aim is to be as accessible as possible and we
have a pioneering Access Programme which welcomes increasing numbers of
children and young people with disabilities to our Theatre. We are also now
delighted to be able to confirm that we are part of the national portfolio of
organisations supported by the Arts Council for three years from 2012 to
2015.

The Unicorn's main activities are:

- Staging a high-quality year-long theatre programme

- Hosting the best national and international theatre for young people

- Running a highly-acclaimed Learning and Participation Programme for
young people, schools, families and community groups

- Setting an example of best practice in providing access to theatre for
children with disabilities

- Subsidising tickets to ensure children and young people can make a
theatre visit, many of whom are experiencing theatre for the first time

Our key aim is to ensure that no child is barred from theatre either
through poverty or disability. We aim to lead the way in creating access to
high-quality theatre for young people who suffer disadvantage, whether
through our subsidised ticket scheme or through our comprehensive programme
of work for children with disabilities.

                          For more information contact:
     Elliot Rose E: elliot.rose@unicorntheatre.com T: +44(0)20-7645-0546

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