A GROUP in Westbury hopes to rally support for a theatre in the town.

A committee has been formed and will be holding a public meeting on Monday, March 25, to look for new members and support from townspeople.

Committee secretary, Barbara Maxwell, said: "At the moment there is no theatre or suitable venue in the town for putting on a production and also there is no central community centre."

If the committee's plans go ahead it will mean that Westbury's own drama group, The White Horse Theatre Company, will no longer have to go out of town to perform.

Company member, Ian Cluley, said: "This is an exciting opportunity to actually bring a much-needed venue to the town, and would enable groups like ours to perform at a dedicated venue."

At the moment the company, which has over 40 members, rehearses at the Laverton Hall but has to go elsewhere to stage productions because the hall isn't suitable.

It has performed at Matravers School but the hall is busy and is too big a venue for smaller plays.

As a result the company is often forced to stage plays in Warminster or even Bath.

To see its next production, Norman Robbins' The Late Mrs Early on April 12 and 13, Westbury people will have to travel to the Assembly Hall in Warminster.

Mrs Maxwell said: "It is quite a way to go, especially for people who don't have transport so Westbury people may miss out."

The new committee hopes that the theatre would not only be used to stage plays but could also become a meeting point for many community groups.

Mrs Maxwell said: "We realise that not everyone is interested in theatre and we hope it would be used by as many members of the community as possible.

"It could be used by bands or film clubs and we would hope that conferences could be held there."

"We are hoping to put some of the heart and soul back into Westbury town centre."

Monday's public meeting is to gauge local feeling on the subject and is an opportunity to raise any questions.

The committee would welcome new members who can bring their own expertise or simply enthusiasm for the project.

If there is enough local support to go forward the committee hopes to pay for the project through grants as well as its own fundraising efforts.

The public meeting will be held at Westbury Football Club, Meadow Lane, at 7.30pm.