THE young actors of the Evesham-based Festival Players have thanked Waitrose after the supermarket's £333 boost to its funds.

Waitrose Community Lead Alice Haley was on hand for a socially distanced cheque handover to group members Connor Hill and Alex McCullough.

Group director Eric Jones said: "With ‘no socialising’ the order of the day during the coronavirus crisis the group has not been able to rehearse their next play – another Agatha Christie murder-mystery-comedy, Spider's Web – so the group have been meeting every week on Zoom or Instagram for a read-through organised by Alex.

"The on-line ‘conference rehearsal’ was set up by the young people themselves for Sunday afternoons for as long as it takes.

"They all hope that by continuing to rehearse, when the crisis eases they may yet be able to meet and rehearse and then perform the play in July as planned."

The Festival Players are hoping that they will still be able to present the play in Broadway (on July 16), Bidford (July 17), The Evesham Arts Centre (July 22) and at Number 8 in Pershore (July 24). If dates have to be re-arranged information will be available to those who may have already bought tickets.

"If performances can be arranged, or even re-arranged for different dates, the group hopes to be able to offer a free seat for NHS workers who have been under enormous pressure for these few months," said Eric.

Any teenager doing Drama or Performing Arts who would like to help with this production is still welcome to join the group. For details, contact Eric Jones on 01386 48788 or email him on ericjones41@hotmail.co.uk.