Page 27 - link magazine

Sw ikkr Wide 27

Looking for star material Major step forward for Mechanics
A new way to stardom has been launched by the Wyvern Theatre and After seven years, a group of volunteers is starting to achieve success
the search is on for young people to take part in an all singing and in its campaign to see Swindon's biggest embarrassment become a
dancing production next April. centre of social and cultural activity in the town once again.
Phase II will involve up to fifty The show takes place on Thurs- It's 40 years since
people aged between 16 and 30 day 24 to Saturday 26 April 7.30pm money was last spent
who will work under the guidance with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. on the now crumbling
of a professional choreographer, Everyone between the specified Mechanics' Institute in
director and musical director on a ages can audition after returning the town centre which
first show: Copacabana. an application form with passport will be 150 years old in i! f L
Auditions are set for Sunday 23 sized photo. For a form, call Nicki 2004.
February and rehearsals will run Western at the Wyvern on 535536 As a result of astute N` p
from Sunday 13 April to Tuesday or mail: nicki.western@clear lobbying, the New Me-
22 April. channel.co.uk chanics' Institute Pres-
ervation Trust have
Poetry please Haydon Christmas kids secured agreement by
West Swindon based poetry maga- This year's Haydon Wick Commu- English Heritage to pay
zine Pulsar wants entries from over nity Association party for 3 to 8 £200,000 towards protecting the needed to prevent further deterio-
1 6s to its annual competition for year olds takes place at the Haydon derelict building. Swindon Council ration and £10 million for renova-
publication next June. Centre, Thames Avenue on Satur- will put in £50,000. tion, hopefully from the national
On offer is a first prize of £100, day 14 December, 12.30pm to In 1998 English Heritage up- lottery.
£40 for second and £25 for third. 3pm. The kids will be entertained graded the building's status to New Mechanics' Institute Trus-
Poems of no more than 40 lines on by Smartiepants the Clown. Grade II` because of its significant tee Martha Parry said the battle to
any subject can be submitted. Tickets priced £3.50 are avail- social contribution to the town. It is save the building had been tough.
All entrants will receive a copy able from the centre, tel: 706666. now regarded as one of the most at "It's taken a long time for the mes-
of Pulsar and the top three will risk heritage buildings in the UK. sage to get across to Swindon
receive one year's subscription. Bowls club in concert Because of the status the pro- Council that the Mechanics could
Winning and recommended po- Haydon Wick Bowls Club is stag- posals by its owners to turn it into benefit the town like it used to.
ems will be displayed at ing its regular Christmas concert a hotel are unlikely to get approval. "What has driven us is the sup-
www.pulsarpoetry.com on Saturday 14 December, 7.30pm Earlier this year consultant archi- port from the people of Swindon.
tects reported there were no sig- They believe it's worth saving the
Log on to the web site for the with a programme of Christmas
nificant commercial uses for the Mechanics. After years of pushing
rules or send an SAE to Poetry music and carols performed by the
building. against local resistance and iner-
Competition Administrator, Pulsar Aldbourne Band.
A task force involving the trust is ti a, we're thrilled at the backing
Poetry Magazine, 34 Lineacre, Tickets at £4.50, £4 concessions,
now meeting to oversee the urgent from English Heritage and the per-
Grange Park. Swindon SN5 6DA. can be purchased from Haydon
works and to come up with a long sonal endorsement of our plans
Closing date for entries is 28 Feb- Centre, tel: 706666 or from bowls
term strategy. Around £2 million is from its chairman Sir Neil Cossens."
ruary 2003. club members.