I AM writing to complain about the council's withdrawal of money from Worcester's Swan Theatre, which will lead to its untimely closure.

As a young actress, who has just started training at Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (one of the top drama schools in the country), and a member of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, I owe a great deal to the Swan Theatre.

From a very young age it helped me to focus and nurture my talent. I took part in their summer acting workshops from the ages of 7-11 and I later joined their Youth Theatre.

I have performed in the theatre itself countless times, with outside amateur groups as well as in house productions, and in the last year I volunteered to help with the youth groups working with children aged 8-14.

Throughout all of this, I have learnt an extensive amount, not just about performing, but also about theatre management, professionalism and teaching.

It has given me a greater experience of the acting world as a whole, without which, I do not think I would have been as successful as I have.

My learning has not just come from practical work - it has also been broadened by the plays that I have seen at the Swan.

To even consider taking away something that has brought so much entertainment, as well as education, to the city is just astounding.

From working with the youth groups over the past year, I can see some genuine talent that needs to encouraged.

But this will be impossible if these children have nowhere to perform, to learn, and to be enlightened.

Therefore, I am asking councillors to please reconsider and give the Swan Theatre the money it desperately needs.

The theatre has given so much to the city and the county, please give a little something back.

JENNY ELLISON,

Hatfield, Norton,

Worcester.