Actor launching playwright contest to fund theatre

One of the UK’s best-known TV actors said she hoped a talent search would help raise money for a community theatre in Norfolk.

Sheringham Little Theatre said it faced a “black hole” in its finances following last week’s Budget, because of changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions.

Suranne Jones, who starred in BBC dramas Dr Foster and Vigil, said she would support it by launching a playwriting competition for local writers.

Funds would be raised by selling tickets to the performances of the winning entries, with the theatre’s president Jones giving an on-stage critique afterwards.

“It will combine a search for community talent with being a money-maker,” she said.

Jones, who made her name in ITV’s Coronation Street, became president of the Little Theatre earlier this year.

Theatre director Debbie Thompson said she welcomed the support following the “double-whammy” of changes to rules on employer National Insurance contributions and the rise in the National Minimum Wage.

The National Living Wage is due to rise by 6.7%, from £11.44 to £12.21 per hour.

She said both measures would cost the theatre an additional £25,000 a year.

“This comes after Covid, then we had the cost of living crisis – which is still going on.”

Mrs Thompson said the playwriting competition would be launched next year, and she thanked Jones for her support.

“She’s so hands on because she absolutely sees the value of the community theatre, as that’s how she started,” she said.

“She really has been heaven-sent.”