Campus venture

The loss of funding will also impact upon a recent initiative, the Steps programme (Stagecoach Theatres Expansion Plan for Students) developed by John Cooper and myself.

Over the past year we have established a volunteer programme to recruit students from the University of York to join Stagecoach as associate artistic directors under the guidance of John Cooper.

As a university employee, I was able to apply for a small grant from the university fund, Active York, to set up the programme. Active York is dedicated to integrating university staff and students into the community of York.

University students have thus been given a unique chance to work with a youth theatre company. The Steps programme has been a huge success.

In December, John Cooper gave two talks in an effort to recruit students for the next production of Stagecoach, His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. More than 40 students attended the talks, from which we have recruited four associate artistic directors and a host of students interested in costume design, set design, prop design, music, video presentation and advertising.

Stagecoach is an extremely important part of the lives of its members, a void that will not be filled by anything else. Stagecoach has also been a stepping stone for members wishing to pursue a career in acting. Stagecoach can now boost a number of students at the top acting schools in London, some of whom are now appearing on stage and screen.

Without Stagecoach these individuals may not have realised their potential and future generations of actors will lose their forum for expression.

Loss of council funding will cut the lifeline of Stagecoach, deprive York of a unique production-based youth theatre company and eliminate projects such as Steps and any future collaborations that Stagecoach may envisage.

Lorna Warnock,

Village Farm,

Main Street,

Shipton-by-Beningbrough,

York.

Updated: 11:10 Friday, January 13, 2006