DORCHESTER’S next community play, Spinning the Moon, will get a £5,000 grant from the town council – if it can gain enough other pledges to make it viable.

Town councillors made the decision at their Monday evening management committee meeting.

They were told that the record-breaking seventh community play enforced the town’s national reputation in the field.

The project, which has just got underway with first rehearsal sessions, will involve a cast of around 200 local people making 11 performances to a total audience of more than 2,000 at the Thomas Hardye School during the Easter holiday next year.

Its budget is projected to be £78,000 with ticket sales and other direct income of £31,000, leaving a deficit of £47,000.

Councillors were told in a report from Town Clerk Adrian Stuart that fund-raising and grants had become more difficult for the play association to source : “The budget recognises that some costs that were, in the past, free are now chargeable, as previously supportive partners have to balance their own budgets.

“Grant and sponsorship support is becoming increasingly difficult to attract as more requests are made and donor organisations have less funds available.”

And because much of the income comes from ticket sales the organisers, Dorchester Community Plays Association, also face cash flow problems, creating most of its costs before income is generated.

Town councillors heard that the authority supported the last play, Drummer Hodge, in 2014 with a grant of £5,000.

They voted to approve a £5,500 grant, payable once the Association has sufficient financial support, and also to allow free use of the Municipal Buildings for large scale rehearsals at times when the building is not otherwise booked.