AN appeal by the Farnham Maltings for a piece of theatre to reach people who don’t normally engage with the arts has received more than 80 applications in just two months.

The ‘not for the likes of me’ commission offers £30,000 to cover the costs of developing or redeveloping an extant or new piece of theatre and taking it on an initial three-week tour of Surrey in autumn 2016.

Its aim is to target a particular group or set of communities, with the possibility of touring to non-theatre spaces such as libraries, museums, prisons, leisure centres or village greens.

Of the 80 applications for the commission, eight have been given £250 to develop their ideas with the final award of £30,000 to be made to the chosen artist or company in late September.

The winning idea will then be developed in consultation with Farnham Maltings and Arts Partnership Surrey between September and November 2015, prior to rehearsals early next year.

An initial 15 performances will take place across Surrey in September and October 2016, with the potential for further tour dates in the south east.

Gavin Stride, director of the Maltings, said "a massive range of people" had responded with ideas designed to engage with groups including the under-fives, people with dementia, travellers and more.

He added: "Whilst we are only paying for one of those pieces my hope is that - as often happens with artists - as soon as they have the idea they feel compelled to make it."