The Seaton Visitor Centre Trust is very pleased to announce that they have been successful in a bid for funding from Making It Local, a locally managed grants scheme in the Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONB areas, incorporating funding from the EU, Defra, South West Regional Development Agency and Leader. The £8704 grant will complement the SVCT's own support for WINEFRED, an exciting community play set in the local area, which is to be performed by a new group called The Heritage Players. It will be directed by experienced local resident, Penny Elsom with musical direction from Paul Wilson of Wren Music, Devon's folk and community arts development organisation.

The play will be performed between July 26^th and 30^th 2011 at Seaton Town Hall and provides an opportunity for many local people of all ages, to take part, either front or back stage. There are 30 speaking roles, and chances to participate in crowd scenes and musical performances. These are open to adults and children living in the rural villages and towns along this stretch of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Experience with acting or reading music is not essential. Auditions will also provide tasters of the folk music WINEFRED will use and professionals will pass on new skills to all those involved.

WINEFRED was chosen because of its relevance to the landscape of this part of the coast and to Seaton, its neighbouring coastal towns and rural villages. It's a gripping, yet emotional story of our past and is based on the novel by the Devon based late Victorian parson Sabine Baring-Gould, which has been adapted for the stage by John Seward, a member of the SVCT. It is set in and around the hamlet of Seaton in 1839, the year of the catastrophic landslip between Lyme Regis and Seaton, which makes a thrilling climax to the drama.  The story is set around the smuggling which was endemic to the coastline around Seaton, Beer and Branscombe at the time, and the real life smuggler Jack Rattenbury is one of the leading characters. The SVCT hope that by engaging in a tale of the local landscape, it can act as a catalyst to draw the community together to celebrate and learn about the heritage, geology and history of this area.

Sabine Baring-Gould was also an avid collector of 19^th Century English folk music, which owes much of its survival to him.  WINEFRED will feature performances of the authentic folk music of the 19^th Century, much of which will be Baring-Gould's and which will comment and inform on the drama as the story unfolds. Paul Wilson, of Wren Music, will co-ordinate and supervise the music and Seaton based dance teacher, Sara Perry, of Confi-dance, will direct the dancing.

Paul Wilson will be at the auditions to give tasters of the folk music, and an opportunity to try out some musical instruments. Auditions take place at Seaton Primary School on Mon January 17^th and Wed January 19^th from 7:30pm. If you would like to read the script, learn more about becoming involved in WINEFRED, to audition for speaking parts or as a non-speaking character in the crowd, to take part in the music or dancing then please refer to http://www.seatonvisitorcentretrust.org/ or phone 07972690581.

Paul Diviani, Chairman of Making It Local said, "All we do, all we are is indelibly anchored in place; where we live, work and play is an intrinsic component of our lives. Seaton's regeneration is close to many hearts and "Making it Local" is delighted to join with partners in funding  this fascinating theatrical experience which I am confident will be as enduring in promoting our town and its setting as the Jurassic Coast itself".