YEOVIL NEWS: Octagon panto bucket collection coins in the cash - o yes it does!

THE Octagon Theatre’s pantomime bucket collection for 2014-15 has raised a fantastic £8,000 for charitable causes.

Around 50 fun-filled performances of the record-breaking Jack and the Beanstalk were held over the festive season and the bucket collection at the end of each show saw audiences donate a staggering £8,251.40.

Half of the money that was raised this year will go to St Margaret’s Hospice - a local charity dedicated to providing care and support for terminally ill people and their families.

St Margaret’s Hospice has also received funds raised by the South Somerset District Council owned theatre from the first ever ‘Christmas with the Choirs’ event that took place at St John’s Church in December.

PHOTO – TOP: The Octagon Theatre’s arts and entertainment manager, Adam Burgan, right, presents Ruth Morgan of St Margaret’s Hospice with a cheque for £4,599.33.

PHOTO – RIGHT: The Jack and the Beanstalk panto was a massive success at the Octagon Theatre this year.

The other half of the money raised from the collections will go to the Octagon’s very own Foyer Club. The fantastic team of 80 volunteers became a registered charity in 2014 and aim to further the development of the arts through support of local theatre.

They continue to raise money throughout the year in order to assist the Octagon Theatre with their future development projects having already helped them to purchase its very own grand piano, to upgrade to the infra-red enhanced hearing system, and many more developments both front of house and backstage.

Over the last few years the bucket collection has gone from strength to strength and has now raised over £65,000 which has all gone into local charities and good causes.

The Octagon Theatre would like to thank all those who have contributed to these collections over the years and hopes that their patrons’ generous support will continue as they look towards their 2015-16 pantomime of Sleeping Beauty.

For more information about fundraising at The Octagon Theatre, the Foyer Club or the 2015-16 Christmas pantomime, please contact the Box Office on 01935 422884 or visit: www.octagon-theatre.co.uk.

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