The First Night Riders Rock the South Coast in aid of The Theatrical Guild
More than 30 classic car and motorbike enthusiasts completed a 650-mile journey for this year’s ride, which was organised by First Night Ride founders Brenda and David Edelstein of Triple E Ltd. The 2014 route took the riders from the ROH and Backstage Centre in Purfleet to Norfolk, and around the coast, via Margate, to Eastbourne, before travelling by ferry to the Isle of Wight. Back on the mainland, the team journeyed into Hampshire.
Theatre visits included the Pavilion Theatre Cromer, Great Yarmouth’s Hippodrome Circus, Margate Theatre Royal, Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park Theatre, a photo call at the Shanklin Theatre on the Isle of Wight, and the Pavilion Theatre Bournemouth.
This summer’s ride marked the fifth year that some of the theatre industry’s biggest movers and shakers got together to raise awareness and much-needed funds to help TTG support backstage workers in need. Established in 1891, TTG is dedicated to looking after theatre personnel who, due to a variety of circumstances, need educational sponsorship, counselling, or welfare advice, in order for them to regain employment in the theatre industry.
The charity has many supporters in the industry, including the actors Simon Russell Beale and Keira Knightley, who are patrons. Riders this year included Mhora Samuel, director at The Theatres Trust, Charcoalblue’s managing partner Andy Hayles, the National Theatre’s Rob Barnard, Laura Hannon from TTG, Robert Hamilton and Wes Jenkins from Canada, and Dick and Marie Lindstrom from Sweden.
To date, First Night Riders has raised more than £50,000 for TTG, enabling the charity to help hundreds of people – who are often theatre’s unsung heroes – progress in the industry. This total does not include this year’s sponsorship money, but organisers are hoping for a record breaking year.
More information is available on the newly re-launched website, www.firstnightride.com
