First season for Cheddar arts group

A new community arts organisation is being launched in Cheddar.

Cheddar Arts @ Kings Theatre is a collaboration between the Kings of Wessex School and the village.

The village has always had a tradition of amateur plays, pantomimes and school productions and has hosted touring companies and orchestras. Cheddar Arts aims to build on this by using Kings of Wessex School's state-of-the-art studio theatre.

Gill Scard of Cheddar Arts said: "Head teacher Chris Richardson had a dream that the new theatre should become the hub of the village in theatrical terms.

"He approached some of us to see if we could think of a way of providing a programme of events."

The result is a full season beginning with the launch at the studio theatre on Thursday, November 12, starring the London Philharmonic Skiffle Orchestra.

Cheddar-born comedian Richard Herring will return to his roots with a performance of his sell-out show, The Headmaster's Son on Saturday, November 21.

The theatre has seating for an audience of 250 and is fully equipped to professional standards.

Mrs Scard said Friends of Cheddar Arts would help make it the venue the area had been waiting for.