Lottery Funding Attracts New Audiences to The Georgian House

In January 2022, the Jersey Community Foundation awarded funds from the Channel Islands Lottery to the National Trust for Jersey to develop and deliver a site-specific theatre production at 16 New Street Georgian House.

The Trust applied for a grant of £14,000 and will be using the funds to develop and deliver a comedy murder-mystery play, inspired by real events in 16 New Street’s history.

The Trust’s primary objectives in commissioning the show were to attract new audiences to The Georgian House and provide an entertaining and immersive event that would lift people’s spirits after a challenging few years.

‘As the Island starts to recover and regain normality following the pandemic, the local community is in need of fun and uplifting events now more than ever’, explains the Trust’s Museums Manager, Catherine Ward. ‘One of our core objectives for 2022 is to increase diversity at our sites and encourage first-time visitors. Thanks to the generous support of The Jersey Community Foundation, we are in a position to offer up more than 100 complimentary tickets to local community groups and over 350 complimentary tickets to Key Stage 4 & 5 students (plus free transport), allowing us to grow our audience and share our historic buildings with the wider community.’

‘Murder Mystery plays are universally popular,’ explains Catherine, who worked closely with the Creative Producer of Butterfly Theatre Company, Carla-Marie Metcalfe, to develop the show. ‘By performing the show “promenade-style” around the house, we are able to showcase as much of the historic building as possible. And by including a live auction element in the script we hope to inspire audience members to participate, focusing greater attention on 16 New Street’s unique collection of furniture and artefacts.’

Described as immersive theatre / murder mystery / live auction rolled into one, ‘Going Once, Going Twice, Dead…!’ will be performed live at 16 New Street from 28 March – 02 April.