AN outdoor theatre production has been scrapped after council bosses told the troupe to pay £2,000 towards security costs.

The Priory Players planned to return to its historic home in the grounds of Colchester’s St Botolph’s Priory this summer, after a revamp of the long-neglected site.

The group wanted to set up a stage and lighting rig and leave it at the priory for the duration of the week-long run of Oscar Wilde’s the Importance of Being Earnest.

The production was to have been a celebration of the life of the group’s founder, George Young, who died recently, aged 98. The first shows Mr Young organised were staged at the priory, but the players later moved elsewhere because of vandalism.

The disappointment comes in spite of the revamp being aimed at driving out drunks and undesirables.

Colchester Council agreed to the group’s plans, but said a security company would need to be brought in, at a cost of £2,500, to keep an eye on the equipment overnight.

Barbara Pears, who was set to play Lady Bracknell, said: “The council offered us a donation of £500 towards the cost. We just haven’t got the rest.

“The production isn’t suitable for Tymperleys Clock Museum, where we’ve done plays before, and we can’t use the garden of the solicitor’s office in Trinity Street, which we also used, as it’s been sold. We will be back with a bang next year.”

Nick Barlow, councillor responsible for culture, said: “It’s a shame, but as we are facing such financial pressures, we couldn’t cover the costs this year.

“If they want to come back next year, we will do what we can. If we can’t find any money ourselves, we might be able to put them in touch with other sources of funding.”

“Now the priory is looking so much better, it would be great to see a production staged there again.”