AN amateur dramatics institution in Royal Wootton Bassett is making a determined push to reach its 50th birthday.

The Clarendon Players, formed 48 years ago, needs new blood to take part in the three productions it stages every year.

“We’re very small. We only have something like 21 members,” said Karen Smith, who is directing the group’s next production.

She joined 18 years ago when her daughter Becky, who organises Swindon Fringe, was a toddler. But the group has struggled to find actors able to play younger parts and has recently had to borrow them from groups in other towns.

A couple of years ago in a production of Uncle Vanya she found herself playing a woman in her 20s. “That’s why we need these people,” she said. “We put an awful lot of effort into making it as professional as we can. So we don’t get bored we don’t want to do typical am-dram.”

Their last production was the comedy Jumpy, about mid-life crisis and teenage angst. “That was a fabulous play and very different from the Alan Ayckbourn that we did in November.”

The group is also keen to attract members with technical skills to help with effects. Currently there is only one volunteer whose technical ability is relied on for every play.

But they are taking advantage of technological advances and last year splashed out on a new projector which is used to provide backgrounds and effects.

“It was a huge financial commitment for us but we have used it in almost every play so far for different effects.” The group is also hoping to use it for video. “We’re always looking for ways to make different effects,” she said.

The next production, opening in the Memorial Hall a week after the general election, is Enchanted April adapted by Matthew Barber from Elizabeth von Arnim’s 1922 novel. “It will be a wonderful escapism from everyday life,” said Karen.

Tickets costing £7 will go on sale in the next few weeks. Anyone interested in joining the group can see the Facebook page.