Friends of The Playhouse Fund New Theatre Radios

THE FRIENDS of the Playhouse Theatre in Weston-super-Mare are now equipped with new radios thanks to their fundraising efforts.

The voluntary organisation founded in 1991 to promote and help support the theatre by selling programmes, taking tickets and welcoming patrons to the Playhouse Theatre.

In addition to these essential roles, the group continuously fundraises to help with essential maintenance costs the High Street theatre faces.

Over the past years they have raised funds which have contributed to providing the stair lift and hearing aids, a new piano, stage and sound equipment plus stage curtains.

Their latest contribution is the purchase of these 20 new radios with separate ear pieces to allow regular communication between the Friends during performances.

Wendy Kimberley, Chair of the Friends of The Playhouse, said the radios have been used for the first time for the Sleeping Beauty Pantomime and are a great addition.

She said: "The previous radios were falling to pieces and therefore these radios were desperately needed to allow front of house staff to talk to one and other.

"It means they can know exactly what is happening inside the foyer or the circle and respond immediately.

"They were used for the first performances of the pantomime with great success and will be used in every show in the future."

Peter Undery, Playhouse General Manager, said: "The Friends of The Playhouse do a wonderful job supporting the theatre and we are thrilled their fundraising efforts have paid for these new radios."

The Friends are always looking for new members to help and anyone interesting in joining can obtain a membership form from the Box Office.