Actors aim to replace rotting stage

[dutchman]

A group of amateur performers in Coventry are proving that the show must go on as they continue to raise funds to replace their rotting stage.



The Wheatsheaf Players are attempting to raise £16,000 to replace the deteriorating stage at the city's Co-operative Theatre.

The group launched its Save Our Stage campaign in 2011 in a bid to replace the stage, which has been ruined by wet rot.

Since then the players have raised almost £4,000 thanks to help from members of the Godiva theatre, donations from Heart of England Co-operative Concert Orchestra, Asda and Yorkshire Building Society.

Despite the fundraising achievement the actors could no longer hold performances on the stage at the end of last year due to health and safety fears.

Following this the theatre's members dug up the rotting stage over Christmas and New Year and replaced it with a temporary surface, which will last between three and four years.

This will give the performers time to raise the full amount needed for a permanent stage.

Committee chairman, Chris Evans, said: "The stage was deteriorating faster than we first thought so before Christmas we took the decision to put in a new temporary floor to enable us to do pantomime, without it there was no way we could have put on the show.

"We estimate that we can last another three to four years now before we have to redo the floor completely and fundraising is still ongoing. Many thanks to everyone who has helped us so far both with donations and by volunteering time to help."

For more information or to purchase tickets for the group's current pantomime, Once Upon a Time, visit http://www.wheatsheafplayers.com.