COMEDIENNE Catherine Tate is to become a patron of national theatre company with a branch in Basildon.

Theatretrain runs weekly performing art classes for young people every Saturday morning at Woodlands School, Basildon.

The company is so highly respected, it will represent Great Britain at an international performing arts festival next year. The 9th World Festival of Children's Theatre takes place in Lingen, Germany, in July 2006.

Published Wednesday, December 7, 2005