'The Company', West Coker's theatrical society have decided on their next production to be staged at The Recreation Club in November (16th -19th).   Lesley Boucher, Chairman of The Company, told members at their recent general meeting that the selection process had not been easy.  The committee had looked for a show different to those that had been produced previously and that would use both the younger and older members and be suitable for our limited staging facilities.
Lesley was pleased to say that she had received the go ahead from the rights holders for 'Shakespeare's long forgotten rock opera' - 'RETURN TO THE FORBIDDEN PLANET'.  This show is based on 'The Tempest' and incorporates many popular songs from the 70's and will take audiences on a journey through space where …… you'll

just have to come and see the show!!!.
To get to know the music and the show, two 'workshops' are planned:
Saturday 12th June in the Old School Room 5pm to 7 pm and Saturday 19th June in The Recreation Club 5pm to 7 pm.
Auditions for principal parts will be held on Sunday 27th June 3pm at The Recreation Club.
The show promises to be fun and quite a challenge to all with lots of songs and dancing plus a very clever script in Shakespearean blank verse.
If you are resident in West Coker and are not already a member of The Company and have an interest in any aspect of the theatre, do come along to one of the workshops.
Thanks to Kate Barker for designing The Company's logo.

In the light of mixed fortunes with our recent fund-raising events perhaps this is a good time to explain why fund-raising is so vital to us here in The Ark.
We are a voluntary organisation with charitable status.  It is not a Council provision and exists because staff and parents are willing to run it.  There is a fee of £3.20 per session which has just been increased to cover the minimum wage legislation to which we are subject.  Some children are eligible for 'free' places and Somerset County Council will pay for two sessions a week but the amount they provide is actually less than the true cost of a session.

We receive funding for four year olds under the Government scheme although this is by no means straightforward.. Children are only entitled to funding for the terms following their fourth birthday, so, if a child's birthday falls between September and December there will be two terms of funding.  If the birthday falls between January and April there is one term of funding but if the birthday is after April there is no funding available.  Consequently, last year, although we had seven children preparing for school, only two received funding for just one term..
The fees barely cover the over

heads and salaries so we do need regular fund-raising events for resources and equipment.
West Coker is fortunate to have its own playgroup which provides an important first step on the ladder of education.  We are a small group with currently fifteen children on the roll and we do need the support of the village in order to survive.