Worthing theatre group fund-raiser after prop cash theft

Victoria Monroe, who runs Tori Productions, had her house burgled in June.

Her car was stolen, along with numerous sets of keys, and £600 cash, which was needed for the production.

Victoria, 32, said: “The £600 was going to pay for the things we needed to stage our performance of The Wizard of Oz, so now, unless we can get enough money together, we might have to re-think if it is even feasible.”

The mum-of-one began the not-for-profit production company seven years ago, alongside her job as a nanny.

The group began at St John the Divine Church hall in Ripley Road, West Worthing, before moving to Davison High School and then the Shoreham Centre, which had more space to accommodate the growing group of children who regularly took part in the productions.

Tori Productions now has 60 children on its books from Shoreham to Littlehampton and rehearses at St Andrew’s High School, in Sackville Road, East Worthing, twice a week. The group was due to stage its performance of The Wizard of Oz at the Windmill Theatre in Littlehampton in December.

Victoria, of The Drive, Worthing, said: “When I told the children’s parents the money had been stolen, everyone was shocked, but they have been so supportive, offering to give me lifts to places, as I can’t get around now my car is gone.”

Victoria first realised she had been burgled on June 29 when she saw her convertible Ford Focus was missing. The car was later found by police in Durrington.

Then, she realised the thieves had used her spare car key to drive the vehicle and must have broken into her home to steal the set of keys.

She said: “It was a horrible moment of realisation – I knew they’d been inside the cupboard where I kept the spare keys, which is where the £600 show money was. It was devastating.”

Victoria is now organising a winter wonderland-themed fête to try to raise money for the show to go ahead.

It will be held at the Scout hut in Sackville Road, Worthing, on Saturday, November 13, from 10am to 8pm. There will be children’s entertainment and festive stalls.

“I just really hope we can go ahead with the show for the children’s sake, they work so hard on these productions and don’t deserve this,” added Victoria.

A teenager is on police bail until today (Wednesday, November 3) while enquiries continue into the burglary.