Celebs raise £200,000 for Southgate theatre

8:30am Monday 10th November 2008

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A host of celebrities helped to raise more than £200,000 for an inclusive theatre group based in Southgate this week.

Bafta award winner Dame Eileen Atkins, Dame Shirley Bassey and Bob Hoskins joined 400 guests at the 19th annual Chickenshed Gala on Monday to show their support for the theatre group.

Held at The Guildhall, in the City of London, the lavish ceremony included a champagne reception and a musical performance by 150 Chickenshed cast members.

Prizes for the auction and raffle included a round of golf with Hugh Grant and a Fiat 500.

Chief executive David Balcombe said: “Monday's Gala was a tremendously exciting event in which our 400 guests were able to see a real cross-section of the scope of our work and to mingle with students and members of Chickenshed who are the real beneficiaries of their generosity.

“We are as ever hugely indebted to president Lady Rayne and her committee for organising the event, and in particular this year to Dame Eileen Atkins who spoke so passionately about her first encounter with our company.

“But of course our greatest thanks go to those who bought tickets and entered into the fundraising activities on offer, not least for generating £96,000 in our auction of 'money can’t buy opportunities' alone.

“It's early days but we are confident that the whole event has raised well over £200,000 for Chickenshed – a great result in any circumstances but exceptional in the current economic climate.”

Chickenshed, based in Rayne Theatre, Chase Side, is an all-inclusive theatre to which everyone regardless of age or ability is welcome.

It has produced more than 1,000 dance, music and drama performances since it was founded in 1974, and every week it runs theatre workshops for 600 drama enthusiasts.

Visit chickenshed.com for more information.