Rob Huggins - CEO, Gosforth Civic Theatre
Rob Huggins’ journey to leading one of the UK’s most unique community theatres is both inspiring and unconventional.
Originally from northwest London, Rob moved to the North East nearly 30 years ago for university. Over time, he built a life, a career, and a charity that has transformed countless lives. His passion for supporting individuals with learning disabilities has been the driving force behind his work for over two decades.
A passion for empowerment
“I’ve always specialised in working with people with learning disabilities. In 2003, I founded the organisation that now runs Gosforth Civic Theatre – Liberdade. The core idea then, as it remains today, was about giving people with learning disabilities choiceoffering them power and opportunities that they otherwise might not have had.”
Initially, the organisation started as an apprenticeship scheme to train young people with learning disabilities in running an organisation. As Rob admits, he was learning alongside them, given that his background was in drama, not business management. Over the years, the initiative has grown significantly. Today, Gosforth Civic Theatre employs adults with learning disabilities, runs multiple training programs, and reaches around 150 individuals annually through outreach in SEND schools and colleges.
A theatre like no other
The story of Gosforth Civic Theatre is unique. The idea for the venue itself came from the people it serves. “We asked our company members what they wanted, and they said they wanted a building of their own, a space where they could invite the community in and provide job opportunities to others like them.”
Though running a theatre wasn’t originally in Rob’s plans, he embraced the challenge. The theatre is now a vibrant community hub, offering high-quality food and coffee, hosting live music, theatre, and dance performances, and serving as a venue for weddings and events. Most importantly, it stands as a testament to the contributions of people with learning disabilities.
“There’s no other theatre like us in the country. If people recognise that this space exists because a group of people with learning disabilities had the vision to create it, they might value those individuals more than they otherwise would.”
Renovating for the future
The theatre, initially acquired through a community asset transfer from the council in 2016, faced serious structural issues. By 2019, the building needed major investment to remain viable. Then COVID hit, making an already difficult situation even tougher.
“We had to raise money to renovate the building. What started as a £1 million project quickly doubled in cost due to rising material prices following the Ukraine invasion. We were incredibly fortunate to receive support from the Youth Investment Fund, which helped us bridge the funding gap.”
The renovation included a new heating system, solar panels, an extension for additional community space, improved theatrical infrastructure, and an upgraded bar. “We took it back to the brick walls and started again. It was a tough project that nearly broke me, but looking at the finished result, it was worth it.”
Financial challenges and innovative solutions
Despite its success, running the theatre remains financially challenging. “We turn over just over £1 million a year, and we aim to earn about 65% of that ourselves. The rest comes from grants and trusts, but these funds are dwindling.”
Brexit has further exacerbated funding shortfalls, with major European funding streams disappearing. Coupled with rising wages and operational costs, the financial strain is immense. “We’ve seen our wage bill increase by £100,000 annually for the past three years, and we can’t rely solely on grants anymore.”
To counteract this, the theatre is building partnerships with local businesses through the Gosforth Business Network and launching a paid membership scheme to encourage community support. “If charities can’t get help from traditional sources, we have to work together to find new solutions.”
Life beyond the theatre
Outside of work, Rob enjoys golf and fishing in the Tyne Valley. Recently, he’s taken up fixing his own car – his selfproclaimed “mid-life crisis.”
For those looking to support Gosforth Civic Theatre, Rob encourages visiting their website: www. gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk. There, visitors can book tickets, donate, and learn more about the organisation. The theatre can seat 200 and for music gigs, it has a standing capacity of around 300.