A THEATRE group in Wallingford has announced a collaboration with a town centre pub to give a boost to the hospitality and arts industries and encourage spending.

The Old Post Office in Wallingford (OPO), will provide much-needed fundraising support for The Sinodun Players as well as giving Corn Exchange ticketholders a 15 per cent discount on dining before or after all their events, starting with The Wind in the Willows on July 14.

The announcement received a rush of enthusiastic support from cast members, Toad, played by Adam Brimley, three ‘Wild Wooders’, Rebecca Cleverley, Sue Pritchard and David Simmons plus the town’s Mayor, councillor Marcus Harris.

Francesca Foley, The OPO’s General Manager, said: “Wallingford has always been a resourceful and friendly market town with so much to offer which, before the pandemic, we perhaps took for granted. With restrictions continuing to lift, and school holidays upon us, it’s time to start catching up again with our friends and family over a meal in one of the town’s many good eateries – and to start returning to the Corn Exchange for great theatre and cinema.”

The Sinodun Players was founded in 1948, and the charity operates from and owns Wallingford’s historic Corn Exchange. The theatre boasts a modern sound and lighting system, and also has a café and fully stocked bar run entirely by volunteers.

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Sinodun Players’ Chair, Gloria Wright, said: “This collaboration is a first theatrical green shoot of recovery which, we hope, heralds a summer of renewal for both the arts and for Wallingford. The town has always been supportive of the Corn Exchange and The Sinodun Players and our various activities. We are delighted that The OPO has agreed to support us as their nominated charity which will enable a number of fundraising and promotional opportunities for our exciting programme of plays, music and musicals.”

The collaboration will also see quiz nights at the OPO for the Sinodun Players starting from Wednesday July 7.

The Mayor of Wallingford, councillor Marcus Harris, commented: “It’s fantastic to see the OPO and the Corn Exchange collaborating like this to make our town an even more unforgettable place to visit. It is now that we all have to work together to remind everyone of the appeal of our amazing market town. With everything from a ruined Castle to the River Thames and a host of amazing shops, bars and restaurants, Wallingford has a lot to offer. It’s time to open our doors, all be it carefully, to welcome and encourage the regrowth of Wallingford’s night-time economy and daytime visitors.”

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