Based at the Abbey Theatre in Arbroath, the Abbey Theatre Club is a volunteer-run group that stages regular productions throughout the year and a pantomime at Christmas. 

In late 2021, the Club applied for a Creative Lives microgrant (funded by Scottish Community Alliance's Pockets & Prospects scheme) in order to start meeting up again in person.

Abbey Theatre Club member Laura Barnes explains why they applied for the grant - and how it's helped them stage their first new live production since 2019:

"The Abbey Theatre had been closed for almost two years when Covid restrictions eventually allowed us to open with restrictions in place. Due to the fact everything had been untouched and unused for so long, when we turned the lights on most of the bulbs blew!

"We also had to put in place hand sanitiser stations around the premises. Between this and the fact we were without revenue for so long money was tight. The grant from Creative Lives has gone a long way in allowing us to reopen and put on productions again!"

To read more about the Abbey Theatre Club, visit their website or Facebook page.