A NEW theatre due to open on Ipswich Waterfront next year is to receive thousands from town taxpayers.The 200-seat Witchbottle Theatre - the new home of Ipswich based theatre group Red Rose Chain - is to collect �75,000 from Ipswich Borough Council.

A NEW theatre due to open on Ipswich Waterfront next year is to receive thousands from town taxpayers.

The 200-seat Witchbottle Theatre - the new home of Ipswich based theatre group Red Rose Chain - is to collect �75,000 from Ipswich Borough Council.

The money will be used to go towards the �400,000 costs of the project.

Judy Terry, who has responsibility for arts, culture and leisure in the town will present the company with a cheque on Friday to help towards the costs of the theatre fit-out.

She said: “We are delighted to assist Red Rose Chain and extend further the cultural offer we have in the town. With this grant, we are helping the company build on its reputation for producing exciting theatre and film projects with a broad appeal.”

The Witchbottle is due to open next spring and will be used for theatre and cinema performances and have a caf�, offices and film editing suite.

Red Rose Chain's creative director Joanna Carrick said: “We are delighted with the news from Ipswich Borough Council. We are very excited about the opportunities our new venue will offer. Working in the community is at the centre of what we do such as our new project working with the Iceni Project with participants on drug rehabilitation programmes. The WitchBottle will allow us to build on this work and reach more people in the town.”

Red Rose Chain is currently seeking experienced people to join its Advisory Board to help its future development.

Although The WitchBottle will be its first permanent home, Red Rose Chain has 10 years' experience of running Theatre in the Forest, its outdoor venue in Rendlesham Forest.

Tickets are currently on sale for “The Winter's Tale” performances which run from 6th to 30th August.

To find out more about Red Rose Chain's fit-out appeal visit www.redrosechain.com or call 01473 288886.

What do you think of Red Rose Chain? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk