Coronavirus: King's Head Theatre fears for future as it launches fundraising appeal

London’s King’s Head Theatre has warned that it may not survive the coronavirus crisis without urgent fundraising, admitting that its situation "has never been more precarious".

The pub theatre in Islington, north London, has said it needs to raise £100,000 to survive for what it predicts could be six months of closure.

Artistic director Adam Spreadbury-Maher said many people had agreed to donate the cost of now-cancelled tickets, but that its unfunded status and reliance on box-office income meant additional support was needed.

"We desperately need more help to ensure that we’re able to survive out currently closure. We’re reaching out to Arts Council England and other small trusts for emergency funding, but even with their support, which we cannot guarantee, it’s going to be tough to get through the next few months. Putting it simply, we just aren’t sure we will survive this crisis," he said in a video posted on Twitter.

He added: "The King’s Head Theatre survives hand to mouth, on a good day, and our position has never been more precarious than right now."

It is appealing for donations to help raise £100,000, which Spreadbury-Maher said would ensure the theatre could open its doors again in the future.

The fringe theatre is preparing to relocate from the King’s Head pub, where it has been based for the past 50 years, to a purpose-built £5.6 million premises, with the moving date set for 2020. However, it is not yet known how this will be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.