Support Us

We rely on the generosity of individuals who believe in what goes on here in order to do what we do. Whatever your background or financial situation, there’s a way you can support the Tobacco Factory Theatre.

JOIN OUR FANS SCHEME
A lot of people choose to join our ‘Factory Fans’ supporters’ scheme, where lots of folk enjoy a number of perks with our grateful thanks for their belief and commitment in the form of either a regular annual or a one-off donation. Click the tab at the top of this page to find out more about being a Fan.

SIGN UP ONLINE
If you already know which option suits you best, use these links to sign up now to be a Factory Fan.

EXCLUSIVE PRIZE DRAW in association with Aardman’s The Pirates!
Sign up with Direct Debit before 31 May 2012 for a chance to win a fantastic limited edition signed trio of giclée prints from the personal sketchbook of Peter Lord, Aardman founding partner and Director of The Pirates! Also up for grabs are prizes from Bristol Zoo, Diana Porter, Demuths and WOMAD Festivals.
See the FAN SCHEME tab above for more details, or…

Click the button below to help us look ahead by supporting us annually with a Direct Debit;

Or click below to make a one-off payment with your credit/debit card or paypal account to be a Fan for the next twelve months;

If you prefer to post us something, you can download a form via the FAN SCHEME tab above, or choose one to make someone else a Fan as a gift. If you like to talk to someone about our Fan scheme, current offers or have any other questions at all please don’t hesitate to get in touch:
Anna on 0117 963 0946 / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Thank you so much for whatever you can give us. We honestly can’t do what we do without you!

VOLUNTEER
The Theatre simply couldn’t function without the support of its loyal and dedicated team of volunteers, who give up their spare time to help us tick over. Volunteering is a great way to get involved with the Theatre’s day-to-day operations, find out about how we work behind the scenes and meet like-minded people. Click the tab at the top of this page to find out more about what’s involved. 

DONATE
We’re always incredibly touched by people who just want to make a contribution to the general pot. If this is you, we’d love to hear from you or you can make a one-off donation online here.

Perhaps there’s an area of the Theatre’s activities that you’re particularly interested in. Maybe you’re an opera buff, a comedy nut or an education guru? We’re passionate about hosting and producing the best work around and we’d love to have your support to help us do this. If you might be interested in sponsoring a specific TFT project or production, please do get in touch to discuss current needs and priorities.

LEAVE A LEGACY
Leaving a gift in your will is simple and easy and legacies to charities are exempt from inheritance tax, which is an added bonus. If you would like to leave a gift to the Tobacco Factory Theatre, your solicitor will help you update your will accordingly and we will be happy to help too in any way we can. Do get in touch to let us know of your intentions and if we can provide you with any details.

Become a Factory Fan, support the TFT & choose Direct Debit to win prizes and make your donation worth twice as much… NOW ON!!!  EXCLUSIVE PRIZE DRAW in association with Aardman’s The Pirates!

Sign up by Direct Debit before 31 May 2012 for entry into our Draw.The winner will receive a highly limited edition, signed trio of giclée prints from the personal sketchbook of Peter Lord, Aardman founding partner and Director of The Pirates! These fantastic conceptual sketches of characters from the film will make a very exciting prize indeed for any animation, Aardman or The Pirates! fan or for any proud Bristolian.

Aardman and Peter Lord himself have been staunch supporters of the Tobacco Factory Theatre for many years; as a member of the TFT Business Club, on the Board of Trustees and as a committed and generous ambassador of much activity at the venue. Peter is a true and inspiring example of longstanding support for entrepreneurial creative endeavours like the TFT and we’re thrilled and grateful to be able to offer such an inspiring star prize with his help.

Also up for grabs:
- Family Weekend ticket to WOMAD Festival, Charlton Park, 27-29 July 2012 (2 adults & 2 children) (www.womad.org)
- Silver Necklace from Diana Porter Contemporary Jewellery (www.dianaporter.co.uk)
- Family Ticket to Bristol Zoo (www.bristolzoo.org.uk)
- Three course meal for two at Demuths Restaurant (www.demuths.co.uk)
- Copy of The Art of Wallace & Gromit signed by Nick Park (www.aardman.com)

Huge thanks to all our generous prize donors - we’re very lucky to have such exciting things on offer!

Set up an annual Direct Debit for your FANship donation before the end of May to gain entry to the draw (which will take place in early June) and take advantage of even more perks into the bargain in exchange for your long-term support of the TFT (see below).
Download a form at the top right of this page to print & send in, or click this button to set up your Direct Debit online:

IN 2011, OVER 85,300 PEOPLE SAW 643 PERFORMANCES ACROSS 48 WEEKS AT OUR THEATRES AND 15,400 MORE CAME TO 1,000 CLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS…

BE A PART OF IT

To play the Tobacco Factory Theatre’s important role in Bristol to the best of its ability now costs in excess of £1.4m a year. The Theatre proudly earns a huge 85% of this directly and gratefully receives a modest amount of public funding towards the difference. However, this still leaves a significant financial need every year and we simply couldn’t exist to do all we do without the kind support of people like you and the organisations and businesses around us. We are extremely grateful for this assistance and would love to welcome you into our wonderful community of friends.

FACTORY FANS
Contribute a donation of a size to suit your pocket (minimum £30 a year; many choose to give more) and help keep the Theatres alive and kicking!
Receive:
- Advance season information and priority booking
- News bulletins, offers and announcements
- Regular FANmail newsletters
- Invitations to season previews and other events
FANBASSADORS
If you are able, please consider helping shape our future by making a larger gift (minimum £500 a year) and also receive optional public acknowledgements, invitations to feedback forums, a personal booking service and premium hospitality options.

CHOOSE DIRECT DEBIT FOR ‘241’ TICKETS, DRAW ENTRY & DOUBLE VALUE
There are extra treats for Fans who give automatically each year by Direct Debit as special thanks for their long-term belief in the Theatre. This option is great as it helps us plan ahead with confidence and saves you renewal admin. ‘DD-ers’ get a booking code for specially chosen ‘241’ deals on selected performances throughout the year.
PLUS, All gifts made by Direct Debit currently could be worth 2.5 times as much to the Theatre as they cost you to make thanks to an inspirational group of individuals who have pledged a fund between them to match all 2012 instalments to inspire others to sign up to help us in this long-term way. On top of this, we can reclaim ‘Gift Aid’ on your donations, making your support worth even more. We have already claimed nearly £2,000 of the total pledged - could you help us claim the rest?

SIGN UP ONLINE
Use these links to sign up now to be a Factory Fan.

Click below to make a one-off payment with your credit/debit card or paypal account to be a Fan for the next twelve months;

or click here to help us look even further ahead by supporting us annually with a Direct Debit;

Notes:
- Your payment or Direct Debit instruction will be securely processed via Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and will include a ‘GiftAid’ option.
- Although payments might be processed quickly, please be aware that it could take a little while for the details to reach us at the Theatre. We will be in touch directly when they do!
- Marking your gift as anonymous will mean that we don’t receive any of your details and won’t be able to send you your brochures, bulletins, newsletters or invitations. If you are wishing to support at a higher level but prefer not to be publicly acknowledged as a Fanbassador, please tell us this another way once we are in touch privately.

SIGN UP ON PAPER
If you prefer to post us something, you can download a form to become a Fan on the right of this page, or one to make someone else a Fan as a special gift! If you like to talk to someone about our Fan scheme, gift options or have any other questions at all please don’t hesitate to get in touch:

Anna on 0117 963 0946 / anna@tobaccofactory.com

Thank you so much for whatever you can give us. We honestly can’t do what we do without you!

THANKS TO OUR FANBASSADORS

Geoffrey & Christine Clements / Simon Davies/ Alec Ewens / John & Susan Hart / Simon Inch / Vivien Kies / Barbara King / Judith & Tim Lockwood Jones / Julian Thomas

We also thank our Fans for Life for their early support:

Allen Aulton, Elisabeth Barnett, Joseph Bell, Neville Boundy, Philip Burnett, Geoffrey & Christine Clements, Jerry Cowhig MBE, Richard Drake & Heather Lister, Alec Ewens, Barbara M Florance, Sue Freathy, Selena Gray, FW Greenacre, Robert Hampson & Frances Giles, Paul & Jessica Handley, JWS & S Hart, Susan Holden, Rosemary Homer, Ruth & Stephen Illingworth, Simon Inch, Michelle Jeffery, Joan Johnson, Christine Jones, Vivien Kies, Barbara King, Judith & Tim Lockwood Jones, Adrian Mantle, JD & RD Milne, John Miles, Barry Moore, June Newport, Graham Pegg, Nigel Perkins, Barbara & Chris Reeve, Stephen Sayers, Anna Southall, Julian Thomas

I support the Tobacco Factory Theatre because I want to keep it going. The quality of the shows you put on cannot be found anywhere else; I really feel it is reaching new heights.

Philip Burnett, Factory Fan for Life

Having the TF so nearby is a joy and one that I’m happy to do what I can to support

Simon Inch Volunteer and Fan For Life

Working with volunteers is central to our role in the local community and our identity as an open and accessible organisation. People feel an attachment to the theatre (and the building) over and above that of audience member. The Tobacco Factory isn’t just somewhere to see a show; it represents a particular spirit and ethos - of inclusion, independence, creativity and aspiration - that have been vital contributors to the regeneration of the area and will remain vital as the organisation continues to go from strength to strength. 

We’re always rather overwhelmed by the amount of good will people feel towards the TF and we want to be able to effectively harness that and give people the chance to get involved that they’re so keen for.  And there’s no getting away from the fact that it is incredibly helpful for us to be able to do this. The Tobacco Factory team is a small and very busy one, and help from volunteers is essential if we are to continue to give our audiences the great experiences they have come to expect from their visits here. Theatre volunteers help us keep going from day to day and consolidate our relationship with our audiences and the community and we couldn’t do what we do without them.

You can find out about what volunteering at the TF involves by downloading the pack to the right of this page. (Please note this pack was last updated in summer 2009 and is due to be revised soon.)

We currently have a full complement of volunteers, so there aren’t any opportunities available at the moment. We do keep a waiting list, though, so please get in touch with your email address if you’d like to be notified as soon as opportunities arise.