Theatre group on road to success (From Swindon Advertiser)

Theatre group on road to success

7:00am Friday 3rd September 2010 in

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A THEATRE company for young people enjoyed a year of national touring thanks to a grant.

Sixth Sense Theatre Company, which is based in the town, received £4,800 from the Gannett Foundation – the charitable arm of the Adver’s parent company – to buy a tour van in 2009.

Titania, as the company named the five-seater transit, has not been off the road since.

Jemma Baker, general manager of Sixth Sense, said: “We have been having lots of fun with it. It is brilliant.

“We have been touring nationally with Bob The Man On The Moon which was our first national tour, and we did a secondary schools tour with Ker-ching!”

She said that the van is big enough to carry all the company’s sets and lighting equipment as well as the actors.

“The set can be huge pieces of wood at times and the lighting takes up a lot of room.”

The Gannett Foundation is now open to applications from groups and community projects and has grants of up to £50,000 on offer.

Jemma’s advice to those seeking a grant is to have a creative way of helping others. She said: “The grant is for local people with a creative approach to helping the community.”

Sixth Sense aims to produce quality theatre to help youngsters fullfil their potential.

The company’s next project, The Giving Tree, is due to be performed this winter.

The Gannett Foundation also gives grants to projects such as specially adapted mini buses for the elderly or assisting disadvantaged people, neighbourhood improvements, education, youth development, sport or environmental conservation.

For an application form visit www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/gannettgrants or email phoward@swindon advertiser.co.uk.

The completed form must be returned by Wednesday, September 15. Applicants will be expected to co-operate in publicity and in some cases may be asked to display the Gannett Foundation logo.

For more information log on to the website www.gannettfoundation.org.