The Original Theatre Company has won the Stage One Young Producers' Bursary, which is awarded by a group of London theatre producers.

The company's founder and creative director Alastair Whatley, who was brought up in Bury, said: "As well as the money, they give you a great deal of support with an office in London and a mentor who is high up in the industry.

"It will make a substantial difference. As a producer and a theatre company you need to make people trust what you're doing and this is a real badge of support from a prestigious body of people."

Alastair explained how they need the trust of theatres and of living writers who must be assured their plays will be performed properly.

The company, still based at Dovedon Hall, Whepstead, has come far since Alastair had the idea for a theatre company performing in gardens when graduating from Royal Holloway, University of London, in 2004. Its first production was Twelth Night in the Abbey Gardens, Bury, in 2005, which made a loss.

Over the next three years they consolidated with outdoor performances in places ranging from pub gardens to Accrington Stanley football ground.

They have just finished touring Othello and the company's next production, Journey's End, opens in Basingstoke on 26 January and tours until May.

The Madness of King George opens in September. Details of productions are at www.originaltheatre.com