A THEATRE company has admitted that its plans for an eco-theatre on a Dartmoor hillside were still very much at the dream stage.

MED Theatre said the ambitious project relied on finding a plot on the moor that would be acceptable to Dartmoor National Park planners. Funding of at least £500,000 was also needed to help the dream become a reality.

‘I think it is important to stress that although this is MED Theatre’s dream, at the moment we cannot find a plot of land which meets with approval from the Dartmoor National Park planning office,’ said MED Theatre’s artistic director Mark Beeson.

He said that a plot had been found on a farm on the outskirts of Moretonhampstead, although the national park authority had some objections.

‘We are going to try and arrange a meeting with them to see whether there is any leeway there. The farmer may have some other part of land which may be more suitable,’ said Mr Beeson.

The company has been producing theatrical work on the moor for more than 35 years, but has never had its own performance space.

It has small rehearsal premises in Moretonhampstead but relies on other venues to stage its work, which often involves young people and is inspired by the stories and myths of Dartmoor.

The company wants to create a permanent base in an eco-theatre which makes minimal impact in energy terms, with LED lighting, solar panels and carbon-neutral heating. Mr Beeson said the aim was that it would be very cost-effective to run. It would, though, need to approach outside backers to fund the build costs, estimated at £500,000 with just £100,000 already available in European Union funds.

‘Although undeniably cheap to run once created, a low emission theatre does not grow on trees,’ said Mr Beeson.

‘If we want to take this beyond ‘dream’ stage, MED Theatre’s small and heavily involved local community needs to spread its branches to reach a much wider network of like-minded dreamers, executors and funders.’

While building on a greenfield site on Dartmoor is likely to be controversial, the company said this would allow it to stay on the moor, which inspired its work. If built, it will be the first eco-theatre in the country.

A spokesperson for Dartmoor National Park said that there had been some very early discussions with MED Theatre earlier this year regarding a possible site and planning officers had given some advice. There had been no official planning application submitted.