A hotel and stage company in Bridport are celebrating the end of a successful stage run of a classic play, raising over £2000 for charities.

Jack Hill, former actor and assistant manager of The Bull Hotel invited Bridport Stage Company to stage a production of the classic Oscar Wilde play The Importance of Being Earnest at the venue.

There were three performances of the play, taking place on Thursday, April 4, Friday April 5 and Saturday, April 6.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News: Actors Dulcie Deverall and Rosie Mathewson in Bridport Stage Company's production of The Importance of Being EarnestActors Dulcie Deverall and Rosie Mathewson in Bridport Stage Company's production of The Importance of Being Earnest (Image: Valerie Goodwin)

All money raised from the event will be shared between mental health support charity Samaritans and children's hospice Naomi's House.

A homemade cake in the shape of a handbag, in reference to the play’s iconic line “a handbag?”, was donated for an event raffle by Jane Clarke, who runs The Cake Fairy business in Bridport.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News: Handbag purse made by Jane Clarke, owner of Bridport Cake Fairy business, for the charity raffleHandbag purse made by Jane Clarke, owner of Bridport Cake Fairy business, for the charity raffle (Image: Valerie Goodwin)

The total came to £2148 with £148 raised just from the cake raffle alone.

Valerie Goodwin, founder and leader of Bridport Stage Company, is very proud of the actors for their successful stage run.

She said: “Audiences were delighted by the play and Elliot Millsom filmed it for us.

“Thank you to all who helped make this wonderful fundraiser such a success- especially the wonderful actors, and the team and Jack Hill at the Bull!”