A community grant from Cheshire East Council has proved music to the ears of a popular amateur theatre group.
The £750 boost for Alderley and Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company will help the troupe pay for costumes, scenery and sound equipment.
Cheshire East Mayor Councillor Wesley Fitzgerald presented the company with the cheque during the interval at one of their recent performances of The Sound of Music, at The Evans Theatre.
Councillor Fitzgerald said "It was great to be at the Evans Theatre in Wilmslow for the performance. I really enjoyed this wonderful production of The Sound of Music. The standard was just terrific – it really was.
"Cheshire East believes that theatre and the arts are key parts of successful community life and this is why it was a great pleasure to hand over a cheque for £750 to support this very deserving group."
Chairman of Alderley and Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company David Massingham, who accepted the cheque from Cllr Fitzgerald, said: "For this year's production of The Sound of Music we actually auditioned over 100 children for the parts of the Von Trapp family.
"We have got two sets of children to cover the various performances – so we've narrowed it down to 14 children. We formed them into two teams, which we called 'Jam' and 'Bread'.
"Our theatre company has been in Wilmslow for 65 years and one of the problems that we face in these challenging financial times is, of course, funding some of our productions. Our typical cost per production is around £30,000 – so every contribution helps.
"The cheque received from Cheshire East will go in part to fund some of the technical aspects – scenery hire, costume hire and sound equipment – and so will be much appreciated in helping the company to go forwards."
Photo: Mayor of Cheshire East Councillor Wesley Fitzgerald presents the cheque to David Massingham, chairman of Alderley and Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company, accompanied by the Mayor's consort Mrs Joan Fitzgerald and members of the cast.
