Theatre in the Quarter is celebrating an additional success on top of its impressive run of recent sell out productions.
The children's chorus who supported the actors, singers and musicians at last Christmas' acclaimed production of The Snow Queen managed to raise hundreds of pounds during the pre show entertainment.
Packed audiences were treated to an array of nordic characters, musicians, storytellers and fortune tellers as they arrived for the production.
But the children decided to add to their role play by making flowers and cakes and gathering fruit to sell to the arriving theatre-goers.
They chose the children's hospice Claire House as the charity they would most like to donate their pennies to as the production continued through Christmas and New Year.
At a presentation, Claire House area fundraiser Amanda Mitchell was delighted to receive a cheque from the company of £360.
Amanda said: “Thanks to all of you for raising the £360. It’s a fantastic amount that will go towards making our children very happy.”
Artistic director Matt Baker added: “It's another success story to add to the sell out success of our production at Christmas.
“The Snow Queen was a fusion of the finest actor/musicians with a talented group of performers and musicians of all ages from across the borough all performing in the splendid surroundings of the magical St Mary's Centre.
“But the greatest talent was obviously our youngest performers who were able to raise so much money whilst entertaining the arriving audiences every night.”
Theatre in the Quarter is preparing for a very busy few months ahead.
More than 300 people are involved in its ambitious First World War choral project Over by Christmas which is touring Cheshire's railway stations in September.
This is being followed by a north west tour of its highly acclaimed production Silent Night which tells the story of the Cheshire soldiers playing football in the trenches in 1914.
The year will end with an exciting new adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, a Christmas production for the city, which will be set in St Mary's Centre once again.
Matt added: “If we can raise so much for such a worthy cause, then it's definitely something we would like to build on this Christmas when we present Alice at St Mary's.”
Many of the young Snow Queen performers are members of the company's thriving youth theatre programmes, which create new musical theatre pieces around the year.
Cllr Stuart Parker, portfolio holder for culture, congratulated the whole theatre team for its success last Christmas.
He said: “The Snow Queen was a spectacular performance, made even more special within the setting of St Mary's.
“You have created a great theatre company with Theatre in the Quarter and your casting of professional actors performing alongside local talent creates a magical formula which works so well and provides an opportunity for local children and local musicians/actors to perform together within outstanding productions.”
