True Blood star helps Brentwood Theatre

THREE local schools will get to see Brentwood Theatre’s Christmas show – thanks to an American vampire and his fans.

US fans of Stephen Moyer – the actor patron of Brentwood Theatre and star of the international TV hit series, True Blood – have donated £1,500 to the theatre to mark his 40th birthday.

The gift will pay for coaches to bring pupils from cash-strapped schools to see The Twits, in December.

Stephen, who was born in the borough, was in the UK promoting the American series over his birthday weekend. The show has just launched on Channel 4.

US fans liaised with Brentwood Theatre administrator Mark Reed to e-mail greetings and cash pledges to the actor, to mark the event.

Mark said: “The idea was to do something to celebrate Stephen’s birthday and I spent all day Saturday on the computer, collating messages and cash gifts.”

This is not the first time Stephen’s fan club has raised money for a Brentwood Theatre project – it also chipped in to support the appeal to build new dressing rooms.

Stephen plays vampire hero Bill Compton in the TV series, which is set in a small town in Louisiana, populated by humans and vampires, who live on synthetic blood.

The show is about to start filming a third series, and has been a winner with its American audience.

Last year, True Blood won an Emmy – the TV equivalent of an Oscar.

Email: brentwood@yellowad.co.uk