MED Theatre, the Dartmoor-based community theatre, has turned 18. Actors, directors, playwrights, family and friends helped celebrate its coming of age at Moretonhampstead Parish Hall last Thursday. The event was also used to launch a new chapter in MED's history – an education programme, which will be spearheaded by their new education officer, Carly Mays. A sample of what will be on offer to local schools was enthusiastically received by younger audience members – an extract from The Miller's Tale, in which they had to decide on an appropriate punishment for a miller found adding chalk to his flour. MED'S founder and artistic director, Mark Beeson, said they provided an important training ground and opportunity, accessible to local people. 'It has given a lot of young people, particularly those that don't get on academically well at school, by giving them another outlet to express themselves and get encouragement and feedback.' It also provides exciting opportunities: a short film called Grave Intimations was shown on BBC2 and several young people who cut their teeth at MED have gone onto careers in the theatre. Funding by Future Builders has also provided for a new administrator, Peter Vanderford, and enhanced facilities at its New Street base. A long-term aim is a community theatre building on Dartmoor to stage theatre productions and expand the workshop programme. MED is collaborating with Coombeshead College on a project funded by First Light and the British Film Council. Rae Hoole, Coombeshead's community media and arts officer, said that the community arts group was unique. 'To have survived the political climate of the last 18 years is quite remarkable.' During the evening celebrations, extracts from four plays were performed, including The Salmon, one of MED's earliest productions. Written by Mark in verse, it vividly showed the tensions between man's activities on the moor and nature a theme the group return to again and again. Its latest production, Cassiterides – The Romans on Dartmoor, was written by three of MED's budding young playwrights. Currently in rehearsal, it is due to have its debut in March.
