Harry Potter 120-hour readathon to raise money for Bungay theatre

All seven Harry Potter books will be read aloud, over the course of 120 hours, to raise funds for a theatre.

Terry Reeve, from Bungay, Suffolk, came up with the event to raise £10,000 for the town’s historic Fisher Theatre.

He hoped 100 people would take turns to read the magical series across four weeks in October.

Mr Reeve said: “I wanted to use them, particularly because some of the early editions were printed in Bungay at Clays.”

The use of the Harry Potter books at the readathon was given approval by The Blair Partnership (TBP) – which represents author J. K. Rowling.

Mr Reeve continued: “What I’m aiming to do is find 100 people who would be able to each raise £100 in sponsorship to take part in the big read, which would obviously take place at the theatre.

“There’s going to be quite a logistical challenge to draw up the rota of readers because we don’t really want anyone to read for more than half an hour – that’s quite a lot if you’re reading out loud.”

The community performance would take place over 120 hours.

“We really want to do Harry Potter because it’s a lovely series of books and everyone’s heard of it,” said Mr Reeve.

He also hoped primary and secondary schools would get involved, with “more affluent” readers taking part.

Clare Nelson of TBP said: “We are so happy for Terry to have permission to do the readathon… and so pleased that anyone can pop in and hear the reading of Harry Potter.”

The theatre was built in 1828 and was one of thirteen developed in East Anglia by David Fisher.

As of 2006, it is run as a not-for-profit charity and running costs are funded solely by income generated through creative arts activities.

“Like all small provincial theatres, it struggles to make ends meet financially,” said Mr Reeve.

“I don’t want suggest it’s going to close or anything like that, but I wanted to help them.”