Aspen Partners Almeida Theatre Company In Three Year Deal

The Almeida Theatre Company and insurance and reinsurance company Aspen have signed a new three year partnership to start this Summer, building on the existing long term relationship between the two companies.  
Aspen’s relationship with the Almeida began in 2004 as production sponsors of Edward Albee’s The Goat and has grown from there with support for the theatre’s productions of Macbeth, There Came a Gypsy Riding, Period of Adjustment, The Homecoming, Parlour Song, Rope and most recently House of Games.  From 2 July 2011 Aspen will become the Principal Partner of the Almeida Theatre.
According to the theatre company, Aspen’s commitment to a three year Principal Partnership will ensure continued bold programming, artistic endeavour and risk taking.  Equally as important, it will allow the theatre to keep ticket prices affordable (with up to 40 seats sold each night for just £8).  The partnership is unprecedented for the Almeida in that it also involves a commitment to support the theatre’s education and community programme, Almeida Projects, as ‘Projects Underwriter’.  The partnership will offer volunteering opportunities and staff nights alongside client entertaining, business development opportunities and brand association.
In addition to its main stage work, the Almeida works with over 10,000 young people each year as well many from the local community.  To achieve all this ambition the theatre has to now raise over £1.2 million annually which, along with ticket sales and a reduced Arts Council grant, contributes to the £3.9 million turnover required to run the Company.  

Christopher Rodrigues, Chair of the Almeida Board of Trustees commented “The Aspen Principal Partnership is of course timely from a financial perspective, but what excites us more is Aspen’s proven commitment to the ethos of our theatre and to Michael Attenborough’s (artistic director) vision of a house committed to innovative work of the highest quality.  Aspen is a kindred spirit and that bodes extraordinarily well for the future”.
Karen Green, CEO, Aspen UK, said: “Aspen has been an admirer and supporter of the Almeida Theatre for eight years.  As a local theatre with tremendous international outreach, we are very proud to work with the Almeida Theatre in delivering its innovative programme of work as Principal Partner and in fulfilling a vibrant role in the local community through Almeida Projects, in particular at this difficult time for the Arts.  We look forward to the Almeida Theatre’s continued success in bringing new perspectives to the theatre.”