THE future of a travelling theatre group looks bright after it received £45,000 to continue its work in rural communities.

The Richmond-based North Country Theatre is one of 14 organisations and artists from North Yorkshire to receive money from the Arts Council England.

The theatre group performs mainly comedy plays in village halls and rural venues across the North-East and Scotland.

Nobby Dimon, the theatre group's founder and artistic director, said the money would pay for a trainee assistant director.

He said: "It is with a great sense of achievement that we accept this money because we have started from a very small operation here in Richmond.

"I believe small companies such as this are the unsung bread and butter of community theatre.

"The money will allow us to consolidate and it secures our future."

The Grants for the Arts programme in Yorkshire gives more than £4m annually to arts projects and is open to groups and individuals.

The programme distributes money from the National Lottery and the Government.

Andy Carver, Yorkshire regional executive director of the Arts Council England, said: "These awards are for arts activities of the highest quality, enriching the lives of people who live in the region."

Other organisations benefiting from the handout include Middleham Key Centre, which received £3,525 to bring in a professional artist and drama worker to help children prepare for a medieval procession through the town.

Bedale landscape painter Sue Lawson will use the £3,051 she received to buy IT equipment and employ a website designer, who will help bring her work to a wider and more diverse audience.

The other North Yorkshire recipients were: textile artist Caroline Dunn, of Leyburn, £765; illustrator Chris Corner, of Whitby, £600. Festival of the Moor, the North York Moors, £5,000; Scarborough Poetry Workshop, £1,440; Whitby and District Artist Studio Group, £5,000; choreographer Melanie Moon, of York, £3,290; InterActive Whitby and District, £5,000; The Quill Club, of York, £850; the Impressions Gallery, of York, £15,940; Akatsi Productions, of York, £5,000; and photographer Jim Poyner, of York, £4,687.

Published: 30/07/2004