A GRANT of £19,500 has been awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to enable Red Spider Company of Lewdown to present a major community play. The play, written by author Ron Wawman and directed by Anthony Richards, will be about the life and achievements of the Rev Sabine Baring Gould, entitled ?Like a Buoy?. It will have around 60 parts, including many roles for children and young actors, musicians and dancers. A small mobile exhibition will be offered to libraries, schools, colleges and community venues in Tavistock and Okehampton showing video clips of the performance, and allowing students to help with the steps towards realising the project. Chairman of Red Spider, Alan Payne, said: ?This is marvellous news. The support of the Heritage Lottery Fund will enable us not only to present some important new detail about a significant local Victorian literary and antiquarian figure, but will involve the local communities at all levels in a memorable dramatic experience under professional direction.? The Rev Sabine Baring Gould was the squire and parson of the parish of Lewtrenchard from 1881 to 1924. He is known as the writer of the hymn ?Onward, Christian Soldiers? but he was also an author, a historian and a collector of folk songs. The production will be staged at Bratton Parish Hall in March 2007.
