10th June 2008

Truck honoured by RNLI

A team from Hull Truck Theatre’s lifeboat crew-themed play On A Shout have been presented with a special award by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Members of the On A Shout team were among the guests at the RNLI’s Presentation of Awards Ceremony held at York Racecourse on Sunday.

The renowned theatre received the Record of Thanks for its efforts to promote the RNLI, and for raising £4,326 through audience donations.

The fundraising total was boosted even further thanks to a raffle of signed On A Shout artwork at Sunday's event, which raised a further £597 - taking the overall total to almost £5,000.

Director Gareth Tudor Price said: “We commissioned On A Shout in order to celebrate the tremendous achievements, bravery and commitment of lifeboat crews throughout the British Isles.

"Many of the rescues referred to in the play were fact even though the characters portrayed were fictional.

"We are truly humbled by the work of these lifeboatmen and women and presenting On A Shout, and raising this amount, was the least that we could do for the RNLI and we thank our loyal patrons for giving so generously to this wonderful cause.”

The critically-acclaimed On A Shout, penned by local writer Dave Windass, told the story of an RNLI crew which although fictional, was based on the full-time crew at Spurn Point.

Elaine Close, RNLI Regional Manager, North, said: “On A Shout was a wonderful production which portrayed life at Spurn Point with great drama, emotion and humour and brought the story of these amazing lifeboatmen to a whole new audience of people.

"Everyone at Hull Truck Theatre was entirely supportive of the RNLI's needs as both a charity and a lifesaving service and as well as boosting the profile of our work, they raised more than £4,000 to help our lifeboatmen and women carry on saving lives at sea.

"I am delighted that we were able to formally thank members of the Hull Truck Theatre for their support at our awards ceremony in York.”

Ends

Media enquiries to Alice Mooney on 01482 325012 or alice@hulltruck.co.uk

Notes for editors:

· The RNLI awards recognise the huge contribution its fundraisers and supporters have made in helping the charity raise some of the £122m it needs each year to run its lifesaving search and rescue operation around the coast. The RNLI is a charity and receives no Government funding.
· On A Shout was staged at Hull Truck Theatre from January 24 – February 16, so its launch coincided with the RNLI’s SOS Day.
· The RNLI’s SOS appeal is its major fundraising event of the year.
· Money was raised at Hull Truck Theatre through collection buckets, boxes and the sale of RNLI goods.
· The play starred David Barrass, Laura Doddington, Edward Peel, Richard Standing and Matthew Stathers.
· On A Shout received widespread critical acclaim, including a four-star review from The Guardian.
· On A Shout was written by Dave Windass, who also penned Sully, a play about Hull rugby legend Clive Sullivan.
· Director Gareth Tudor Price is Hull Truck Theatre’s Joint Artistic Director.
· For more information about the RNLI, visit www.rnli.org.uk