A Teddington theatre has received a funding boost thanks to a £5,000 cheque donated by the Middlesex Masonic Charity.

The funds will go towards upgrading the stage lighting at the Normansfield Threatre and was presented by Alan Hykin, from the sponsoring Royal Hanover Lodge, to Lesley Alabaf, the Langdon Down Centre Manager.

The improvements will enhance the productions by adding colour to the stage lighting and reduce the running and maintenance costs significantly.

The grade 2 listed theatre was completed in 1879 as part of Normansfield (a home for people with Learning Disabilities) in Teddington.

Normansfield was built by Dr John Langdon Down (who first identified the characteristics of Down’s Syndrome) as a home for people with learning difficulties and is still regarded as the “spiritual home” for those with Down’s Syndrome.

The Langdon Down Centre is not only the home of the Theatre, but also holds regular classes, music and art workshops, training days and theatre performances, which include those with learning difficulties, filming, photoshoots and receptions.

There are also activities for those with learning difficulties and photoshoots are a feature.

The gift of £5,000 by the MMC goes some way to providing a boost to the project of raising £19,000 for the lighting upgrade work.

Upcoming events at the Normansfield Theatre may be found on the website langdondowncentre.org.uk/events and include Puccini’s Madam Butterfly.