A Chipstead community theatre group has been given a helping hand by volunteers from national engineering specialists this week.

The Chipstead Players drama society, which has performed in the Courtyard Theatre for the past 23 years, were helped by SES Engineering Services (SES) as part of the business’ Reshaping Tomorrow week.

Gavin Dunstan, BIM operations manager for the south region and Roger Rofey, architect, took time out of their day jobs to offer their services to help the project expand.

Mel Morgan, the society’s theatre director, said: “The Chipstead Players is an amateur company based in The Courtyard Theatre in Surrey, lovingly converted from an old stable block by members 20 years ago.

“We put on several productions a year and have grown out of our scenery, storage and workshop space, which is now limiting our ability to work safely and on tight schedules.

He added: “We have spent the some 18 months trying to move forward with a project to move forward with a project to extend that area and have struggled, and the involvement of Gavin and Roger has provided the expertise and skills we don’t have and has been a shot in the arm to our project.

“We are extremely grateful to both Gavin and Roger for giving us their time and experience.”

Jason Knights, SES’ business director for the south region, said: “We are delighted to be able to volunteer our services to a group which plays such an active role in our community.

“We’re proud to play a small part in helping them realise their plans to expand their much-loved theatre.”

The volunteer project forms part of Reshaping Tomorrow week, a national programme that coincides with National Volunteer’s Week.

The aim is for business employers to donate their time to help local good causes.