THEATRICAL GRANT SCHEME

Over the years many talented performers and technicians have passed through the ranks of PPP. Casts have included many teenagers studying dance and drama at local schools and colleges, who have progressed onto stage schools and successful careers on the professional stage. Ex-members toured the country in Grease and Annie, and appeared in the West End in Beauty and the Beast and currently in Mary Poppins. One has had a featured role in TV Soap Eastenders. Others are making a living as dance and drama teachers, and one was even dancing in a travelling circus in South America!! Another is currently making a big name for herself in the Royal Ballet. In 1988 the Committee decided that the Society should set up a Theatrical Grant Scheme and it was adopted at the 1988 AGM. The intention was to make donations to any member obtaining a place at stage school or dance college, to assist with their funding. This has recently been extended to include any theatre or arts based course. The donation, while not big, would help with the purchase of books, dance wear or shoes etc. Now set to a sliding scale applicants must have appeared in at least two society shows in the last three years leading up to the application. The amount paid depends on the number of shows that the applicant has appeared in or worked on (minimum of two) and while formerly performance related, the scheme has recently been amended to include backstage assistance (at the discretion of the committee and depending on their contribution to PPP). Many past members have taken advantage of the scheme, and we list here, for the first time, all those who have recently received funding from the society.

ALL APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE SOCIETY DIRECTOR

(IAIN DOUGLAS)