IN her theatre column of Friday, May 4, Jenny Stephens writes at length about the new writers' initiative.

This is to be applauded but it is unfortunate that in noting that "the professional season has come to an end", and "the set has been dismantled", she may have inadvertently gives the impression that nothing much will be happening at the Swan for a while except writing.

In fact, it is now that the "community" takes over, staging productions performed by well-established and popular local groups whose members reside throughout the county.

Some of these groups helped build the Swan in the first place and they still support it through the work they do there, paying for their use of the auditorium and helping keep the Swan open through the summer months.

So, thanks to them, for most weeks between May 1 and September 8, theatregoers have the opportunity of enjoying musicals, comic opera, drama, comedy and dance.

The companies may be "amateur" - a word derived from Latin, meaning that the work is done out of love and not for money - but past experience has shown that much of the work will be extremely professional in standard and well worth seeing.

A brochure is available from the theatre or ring the box office on 01905 27322.

MS ANN MOORE,

Worcester.