Money for Old Prose 2012

Hackney stars perform for Old St Mary's and new arts centre

Seasonal show is part of final fundraising push

Hackney residents and stars of stage and screen are returning with a programme of

seasonal favourites in Money for Old Prose at St Mary's Church on Stoke Newington

Church Street.

It's the fifth year of the popular show – and the cast, which includes Paul Bradley (Elliot

Hope in Holby City), Selina Cadell, Maggie Steed and Michael Thomas, are once again

hoping to raise thousands of pounds to help refurbish Old St Mary's Church and create a

vibrant new arts centre in the heart of Stoke Newington.

Parts of the building date back to Tudor times, making it one of Hackney's historical

treasures. Funds raised to date are already helping to repair the fabric of the old church

and modernise the facilities.

But money is still needed to pay for a modern heating system, and seating and lighting

for the new performance space.

With the help of donations the plan is to complete the works, and reopen the historic

church for worship and as an arts space for the whole community in time to celebrate its

450th year in 2013.

Relax and let your festive spirits loose!

Money for Old Prose is on Sunday, December 9th at 7:00 pm, at St Mary's Church,

Stoke Newington.

Each year, the performers pick and perform their own festive readings, verses, songs

and music.

This year will feature another original mix, designed to lift everyone's Christmas spirits.

Advance tickets are available from Church Street Bookshop on Stoke Newington Church

Street or on the door on the night, priced £10 for adults, £8 concessions and £5 for

children.

'Help us reach our fundraising target'

Selina Cadell, currently appearing in the critically-acclaimed production of Alan

Bennett's new play People at the National Theatre, describes the old church as 'a

stolen treasure in the middle of a busy city.'

'It is such a pleasure to perform there. For an actor it has a warm acoustic, and the

audience sit like friends in a front room.'

Fundraiser Sarah Robson says:

28 November 2012

'We are thrilled that the troupe are coming back for what promises to be another

wonderfully entertaining evening. We hope people will come, enjoy and help us reach

our fundraising target. As well as being a gem of a theatre for our community, Old St

Mary's could become a place to bring our children for art classes, an affordable venue

for our teenagers' first gigs, a space to book for a special occasion and a treasure trove

of history for pupils to explore.'

For further information about Money for Old Prose and the St Mary's Arts Centre for the

Community project, please visit www.smartn16.org.