With a community cast of more than 100 local people, Poole’s community play SALT is already making an impact thanks in no small part to the efforts of its community fundraiser Jane Bull.
Armed with home-made marmalade, cheese sandwiches and rocky road brownies, Jane has been making sure that nobody is left hungry at rehearsals for the play that will run at Lighthouse from 27 to 30 July.
“It costs such a lot to put on a production so anything we can raise will help with that,” says the unfailingly community minded Jane, a veteran of countless drama and craft groups.
“SALT is such a good thing for Poole and it’s already bringing people together – I’ve come across some ladies today and it turns out our husbands know each other but we’ve never met before. Isn’t that something?”
‘Bursting’ with creativity and desperate for an outlet, Jane was casting a net for a new project earlier this year and could hardly believe her luck when she found out about SALT, which links the movement of people in Poole’s historic Newfoundland trade with modern migration stories. Enthused, Jane responded to the first casting session call out and landed the part of Elinor Warland, the wife of a retired Admiral.
“It’s great that I got the part and my husband Anthony Barrett, who is a professional actor, is playing the Admiral – we’re mostly in it at the beginning and the end,” Jane explains.
“But when they said they were looking for someone to help out with a community fundraising campaign I volunteered immediately.”
Selling her home-made goodies alongside alongside SALT branded tote bags, Jane helped raise £50 at the first rehearsal and hasn’t looked back, enlisting the help of the Crafty Ladies group who meet at Lighthouse to make Dorset Buttons for the production.
“They want buttons of all sizes, from little tiny ones up to hoop-sized buttons for the sets,” she says. “We’ve got a brilliant set designer, but there’s such a lot of sewing needed before the show goes up in July.
“First though, I’ve got to make a dead seagull… but I don’t want it to be too scary!”
Inevitably, Jane’s community fundraising efforts have caught the eye of Poole BID chief Jacqui Rock who is behind the business group’s support for SALT.
“The sense of community that is building around SALT demonstrates the very best of Poole,” says Jacqui. “People look out for each other and support each other, and the same is true of local businesses.
“Through the work of the BID our members are happily helping in any way they can and are excited to see this amazing production when it plays across the high street and at Lighthouse.”
Tickets and information 01202 280000
www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
