An 'am dram' group is aiming to put its fund-raising more into the spotlight after becoming a charity.

Eastern Daily Press: CSODS treasurer Peter Howell who is delighted at it achieving charitable status.CSODS treasurer Peter Howell who is delighted at it achieving charitable status.

Cromer and Sheringham Operatic and Dramatic Society will mark its centenary next year.

And it is launching into the milestone by gaining charitable status.

Treasurer Peter Howell said it would help the society when seeking grant and sponsorship support.

CSODS had turned around its financial fortunes in recent years from loss to profit thanks to staging box office hit shows.

Last year's Sound of Music sold 98pc of its seats and made £11,000. This year's centenary musical Oliver! aimed to follow in its footsteps.

'We were starting to lose money year on year but we are getting healthier through chosing money-spinning shows,' said Mr Howell.

It has enabled the society to enhance its reputation, not just for staging quality shows, but also support charity.

Over the past five years it has donated more than £12,000 to charities.

During its 100-year celebrations it would be helping: the Cromer-based About with Friends group which provides support and vocational experience for people with learning difficulties; Sheringham Salvation Army and the national charity Changing Faces, which supports people with disfigurements.

Changing Faces is linked to the society's February production of The Elephant Man - featuring Victorian John Merrick who lived with deformity and was played in the 1980 film starting John Hurt who now lives near Cromer.

Mr Howell said gaining the charity status had taken two years, because it involved two constitutional changes which had to be ratified by annual meetings, but he was now 'delighted' at achieving it.

For more information about the society and its productions visit www.csods.com