More than £1,000 has been given to an amateur dramatics group in Abbots Langley.

Abbots Langley Players was awarded a grant of £1,500 by Abbots Langley Parish Council to help stage the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Open Stage project in April 2015.

The project will see amateur theatre groups work with the RSC to create their own production and then present it at the amateur group’s own venue. The Royal Shakespeare Company will provide training and mentoring throughout the project.

The money will be used to help the group with the costs of putting the production together and will go towards the construction of the stage, lighting and security

Chairman of the group, Roger Gotts, said: "We are very grateful for the support, which is very valuable and it is a good start on our fund raising path.

"It won’t cover all the costs, but we will have to do some fund raising as well."

As part of the production, the group will perform "Herbal Garden" and part of the set will be a working Jacobean Herb Garden, which will be donated to the village after the show.

Roger added: "It goes beyond just putting on a production, it is about trying to give something to the village that everyone can benefit from."

The funds were allocated at the Parish Council’s Finance and Administration Committee meeting held on April 28.

Abbots Langley councillor Jeff Hill said: "We gave them that amount because hopefully, they will be able to get more people from the village involved in the activities they are doing.
They do a good job and there is a lot going on with the RSC."

Other sizeable grants include:

  • £2,000 to Lions Club of Watford to help with the Abbots Langley Carnival and firework displays
  • £2,000 to the Citizens Advice Bureau in Three Rivers to support home visits and a case worker at the Abbots Langley branch.
  • £1,500 to St Paul’s Church in Langlebury to help the church maintain their grounds, grave areas and areas of remembrance.
  • £1,500 to St Lawrence’s Church to cover the cost of maintaining the churchyard and remembrance areas.
  • £1,000 for the refurbishment of the War Memorial.
  • A total of £11,400 was given out in grants by the parish council.