Rayleigh and Wickford MP, Mark Francois, who has been a long standing supporter of the Mushroom Theatre Company, attended the grand opening of their new premises on Brook Road in Rayleigh on Sunday 25th January.
After many years of searching for a permanent home, the Company managed to acquire a disused industrial unit on the Brook Road Industrial Estate and they have since succeeded in converting this into a 21st century headquarters and dance studio, where members of the Company can train and rehearse for future productions. Mark was present to see Penny Bubb, the founder of the charity and celebrity Lee Mead, the charity’s patron, cut the ribbon to officially open the new premises.
The Mushroom Theatre Company provides an opportunity to participate in dance and drama for both able bodied children as well as those with additional needs and puts on a number of performances every year at which the young people demonstrate their talents. Mark has attended a number of their shows down the years and was delighted to be invited to attend their grand opening.
Speaking about the event, Mark said:
"The Mushroom Theatre Company are a truly inspirational group of people and they provide wonderful opportunities to both able bodied children and those with additional needs to work together in producing some truly inspiring productions. If you go and see one of Mushroom’s shows you come out buzzing, not least due to the remarkable energy that the young people put into their performance. It has been a long journey to get to this new home in Brook Road but I am delighted that Mushroom have achieved it and I was pleased to be able to be present to wish them all the very best of luck for the future."