A Lotto joy for Irvine!

Alistair Neil • Published 23 Nov 2009 18:36

Aulround Productions awarded new funding

AN EMERGING Irvine theatre company has been awarded £10,000 to help promote the arts across Irvine and Kilwinning.

Aulround Productions will use the Awards for All lottery funding to attract fresh interest in theatre and film by actively encouraging school children to get involved.

Former Irvine Royal pupils Alan MacLean and Stuart Woodison are behind the company, which aims to highlight talent that is currently going unnoticed.

Alan said: "Our main focus is to expose Irvine and Ayrshire talent. We want to target areas that don't have anything like this."

Following the success of Aulround's debut show in July, an adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the company are now targeting a major production in March.

And the Irvine actors will be holding an open audition in a bid to attract the best talent for the show. They stress no acting experience is required and are always on the look-out to fill a variety of positions.

Alan added: "We want to put on a high quality production but we are not expecting people to be professionally trained.

"We need people to fill different roles, such as lighting and backstage positions so it's not always about standing on a stage and giving a performance. "We're just waiting on the copyright coming through before we can make on announcement on the show."

The funding will ensure Aulround can now visit schools to put on productions while spreading the word about how to get involved.

Cash will also go towards new website costs, rehearsal rent, stage props and transport.

The group are currently working on a radio play and are looking at using a slice of lottery finding at producing short films.

Stuart added: "We want to live up to the name Aulround so are focusing on not only theatre, but also radio, film and teaching as well.

"When we put on Frankenstein Alan and I took a risk financially in putting money into it as we both have other jobs.

"But now this money will help with the up-front costs and money made can be ploughed back into future performances."

He added; "We're looking at going into schools and putting on topical productions, such as anti-bullying messages, for example, and will actively involve youngsters to get involved."

Aulround Production's new website can be found at www.aulroundproductions.com.

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