A PONTELAND amateur dramatics group is celebrating after it received a welcome funding boost.
The Community Foundation has approved a grant application of £2,800 from the Ponteland Repertory Society for new materials.
Members have now purchased stage lighting and professional music stands and this will save them a lot of money as they no longer have to hire them for performances.
Vice Chairman Ted Henderson said: "We have a number of overheads and we are trying to reduce them because we are aiming to run our productions, apart from the odd big budget ones, at break even or even at a small profit.
"We received a small amount of funding from Northumberland County Council and armed with that success we applied to the Community Foundation. We are extremely grateful to the charity for providing us with the full amount we asked for.
"The only thing we could do with now is sound equipment such as body microphones, so we will probably apply for another grant to try and get these items."
The society's next production, That's Entertainment, is a tribute to the legendary Cameron Mackintosh who has produced memorable musicals such as My Fair Lady, Oklahoma, Cats, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Oliver, Carousel and Little Shop of Horrors.
The performance at the Memorial Hall will be held on Thursday, April 7, Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9 from 7.30pm.
Work has already started on next winter's big budget production, Me and My Girl, which will have a cast list of more than 30.
Tickets for That's Entertainment cost £8 for adults and £6 for children under 16. They are available from Alan Newton Butchers in Merton Way. Alternatively, contact Mr Henderson on 0191 284 7143 or email tedhenderson@virginmedia.com
Source: Morpeth Herald
