Giving Tuesday: An Interview with Megan Turnell Willett

This Giving Tuesday, Reading Rep Theatre carried out a small programme of thank-you calls and messages to supporters who have contributed to the organisation since its building opened. The activity was not connected to any fundraising drive; instead, it served as an opportunity for the theatre to acknowledge past generosity, express appreciation, and learn more about the supporters who help sustain Reading Rep’s work. Head of Development Megan Turnell Willett reflects on the day:

“This time of year is naturally a season when people feel more compelled to give to charity. However, the warmth of the Christmas spirit* moving people to share with those less fortunate is also a well-acknowledged phenomenon among fundraisers – December can feel somewhat saturated with donation requests and appeals, for more worthy causes than most people have pennies to spare.

People have been giving to Reading Rep in one way or another, since the very beginning. Our very first production was only made possible by a generous £500 donation from our Artistic Director’s Grandma. Charitable giving – or, rather, receiving – is in our bones. And what is Giving Tuesday without the givers themselves?

So rather than launching a campaign or setting a financial target, we wanted to turn the idea on its head and simply set aside some time to thank the people who’ve supported us over the years. It felt like something we ought to do more often, and this provided a natural prompt to actually get on with it.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how it would go. Picking up the phone to thank someone out of the blue has the potential to feel a bit awkward – for them and for us. But once we started, the conversations were genuinely, quietly, inspiring. They reminded me that behind every gift, whether it’s £3 or £300, there’s someone who made a deliberate choice to support what we do.

What people said varied, but a few comments stayed with me. One person told me,

“I’ve had a lot of calls and messages for Giving Tuesday, but no one’s just been saying thank you – what a lovely thing.”

Many of the conversations were brief, some went to voicemail, and a few turned into unexpected reflections on what the theatre means to people. One donor told me that

“Reading Rep on Christmas Eve has become a tradition for our family – we love your shows and I’m happy to be able to support.”

And another ended by saying,

“So nice to hear from you… we always have a lovely time when we come, so thank YOU.”

None of these exchanges were particularly dramatic, but taken together, they added up to something that felt really worthwhile. In a year that’s been hectic in all the usual ways – production deadlines, community work, the day-to-day rhythm of a busy building – it was grounding to spend some time hearing directly from the people who quietly help keep us going.

I’m definitely thinking about this as the first of many Giving Tuesdays for Reading Rep – I’m already planning how we can make next year bigger and better, while retaining this spirit – a small pause in the middle of a busy season to acknowledge the people who have stood alongside Reading Rep from the beginning, and who make so much of our work possible.

*or the threat of “no cheeses for us meeces” haunting our dreams