Merton Live! To Celebrate Local Talent In The Borough
Wimbledon fundraising event returns for its second show
Back for its second year, Merton Live! will be celebrating local talent in the borough and raising funds for charity.
The event, brought to you by Wimbledon Guild and New Wimbledon Theatre, will take place on Saturday February 1 from 10am -5pm.
Merton Live! will be one of the charity’s main fundraising events of 2020. This family day out will help to raise money to aid the vital work Wimbledon Guild does to support local people in Merton who are experiencing social isolation and loneliness.
Merton Live! will showcase a line-up of local schools, dance, drama, music and gymnastics groups with performances throughout the day at one of London’s biggest theatres.
In addition, the theatre will be throwing open its doors for ticket-holders to explore this historic building with backstage tours and a host of theatre related activities for all the family including: theatre workshops; face painting; slime making; insight to technical side of the theatre; arts and crafts; treasure hunt; food and drink, plus lots more.
Already confirmed to perform on the day include Hollymount School, Kings College School, Willington School, Cricket Green School, The Study, Wimbledon Community Chorus, Ricards & Rutlish 6th form Schools, Wimbledon High School, Urban Dance City and the Merton Gymnastics Club.
Tickets for the event at £6.50 adults, £4.50 child and under 3s go free are now available online via www.atgtickets.com/wimbledon.
Local estate agent John D Wood are already supporting the event in terms of sponsorship.
Merton Live! comes at a time when the charity is seeing an increase in the number of people seeking their support, as Wendy Pridmore, chief executive, explains: “We are delighted that Merton Live! is back for a second year to help showcase local talent and provide some fun to a cold and rainy February. The funds raised from Merton Live! will help support our work in the local community.
"With over 7,500 people aged 65 and over living alone in Merton, we are seeing more and more people accessing our services who have become lonely and isolated. In the past year alone, we helped over 2,000 vulnerable people who live, work or study in Merton.
"We know that New Wimbledon Theatre and the arts in general play such a key role in our local community, especially in helping older people maintain contact with others. At Wimbledon Guild, everything we do strives to help older people by providing tailored services such as wellbeing support, talking therapies, befriending, grief support, as well as put on 120 activities a month and run a daily café. All of the funds raised from Merton Live! will help us continue to provide these vital services’’.
Nick Parr, theatre director, New Wimbledon Theatre added: “New Wimbledon Theatre has been at the heart of our local community for 109 years and Merton Live! marks the start of a new partnership with Wimbledon Guild which we hope will raise much needed funds for the charity and provide a fabulous family day out. We want the theatre to be open to everyone – so come inside and peek behind the curtains into the magical world of theatre.”
December 4, 2019