14/06/2019: UK Music has donated a state-of-the-art sound desk to help dramatically improve the sound quality at Islington’s Little Angel Theatre.

^{L-R: Richard Watts, Michael Dugher, Samantha Lane, Tom Gray at Little Angel Theatre with puppets from The Slightly Annoying Elephant.} 

UK Music CEO Michael Dugher stepped in to help the charity after hearing it desperately needed the new equipment to combat sound difficulties in its listed building in Dagmar Passage.

He was alerted to the problem by award-winning composer Tom Gray, who composed the music for the theatre’s current production – an adaptation of David Walliams’ The Slightly Annoying Elephant, which runs until 4 August.

UK Music offered to foot the bill for a new Allen & Heath Zed12fx Desk, which Edward Forth from Audio-Technica kindly supplied at a reduced price.

Mr Dugher was joined by Tom Gray and Islington Council leader, Councillor Richard Watts, for the official handover of the sound desk to the theatre’s Artistic Director Samantha Lane.

Little Angel Theatre Artistic Director Samantha Lane said:

“All the staff at Little Angel Theatre are incredibly grateful to Tom, for organising this donation, and to UK Music for their generosity.

“The new desk will make a massive difference to the quality of the sound in our auditorium, and therefore the experience of our audiences.”

UK Music CEO Michael Dugher said:

“UK Music was delighted to be able to help out and provide a new sound desk.

“Venues like the Little Angel Theatre are a vital part of the music and creative eco-system and help nurture the talent pipeline on which the music industry relies.”

Mercury Prize-winning artist Tom Gray of the band Gomez, a Writer Director of PRS and representative of the Ivors Academy & FAC said:

“Small theatre venues like the Little Angel Theatre are often the places where children get to hear and experience live music for the first time.

“It’s incredibly important to ensure that what they get to enjoy is of the best achievable quality.

“We want to inspire our future creators. It always looks beautiful in here. It’s great that UK Music have helped it to sound beautiful too.”

Leader of Islington Council Councillor Richard Watts said:

“I’m delighted that UK Music have been able to make this donation for Little Angel Theatre.

“Little Angel really is one of the cultural centrepieces of Islington. It serves an incredible diverse community and does a fantastic job of keeping the arts accessible for everyone in Islington.

“Things like this donation are really important for keeping small organisations like this going and I’m very, very grateful indeed on behalf of Islington.”

Read more here: 

Islington Gazette