SALISBURY Playhouse, which launched its new season last week, is celebrating a new business relationship with car dealer Heritage Volkswagen, which is sponsoring The Taming of the Shrew.

Brand manager Paul Booker says he recognised the opportunity to promote Heritage Volkswagen and in particular the Polo range of cars to a new group of potential customers.

"We are delighted to align our brand with Salisbury's theatre-going public and proud to be associated with the high quality of work produced at the Playhouse," he said.

"This sponsorship allows us to give valuable support to a local resource and at the same time to tap into a wide range of development opportunities for ourselves."

Heritage's promotion includes a competition, which is open to anyone, to win a weekend in London, including a trip on the London Eye, dinner at the Oxo Tower Restaurant, two tickets to a West End show, first class rail travel from Salisbury to London Waterloo and bed and breakfast at a top hotel.

As well as hosting a hospitality event for clients and contacts during the run of the show, John Cook, Heritage's managing director, and representatives of his team went to meet the cast and crew on stage at the Playhouse amid the bustle of pre-show preparations last week.