THE Wyvern Theatre does not need rescuing and continues to fulfil a thriving need in the community, according to its general manager.

Ted Doan said this after it was revealed that a flagship library, art gallery and museum could be built next to a revamped Wyvern in an effort to inject new life into a grey part of town.

Mr Doan nevertheless insisted that far from trying to compete with other big regional theatres, the Theatre Square venue placed special emphasis on promoting young performers and had become a byword for showcasing local talent.

This week rehearsals started in earnest for this year's Summer Youth Project, Fame, in which local school children sing, dance and help with set design and painting.

The production is being directed and produced by a well-known Swindon double act, David Wicks and Polly-ann Tanner.

Mr Doan, 33, said: "The Wyvern is a local community theatre that would not work in some of the other major towns and cities near here.

"We might be small, but we've managed to stage successful productions like Joseph, which have enjoyed full houses.

"Yes, we might not be able to attract shows like Miss Saigon, but filling the Wyvern is like doing an average night at a big theatre.

"We want to expand to become a 900 or 1,000-seat theatre.

"But we've also got to be sensible because there are big theatres 40 miles along the M4, and we don't want to compete with them," Mr Doan said.

The Summer Youth Project has become one of the highlights of the Wyvern's calendar and this year it is cele- brating its 10th production.

Its first, Bugsy Malone, was the launch pad for a series of successful shows, which have included Annie, 42nd Street, Me and My Girl and West Side Story.

Another huge success has been the charity gala concerts, the last of which was previous mayor Stan Pajak's (Lib Dem, Eastcott) concert, which featured a raft of youth theatre, song and dance this year.

"The big names often look to start or finish their shows at the Wyvern because it's an intimate venue," Mr Doan said.

"The comedians and performers want to come to the theatre through choice.

"It's a popular venue, but we place a great emphasis on the youth theatre here.

"The Summer Youth Project has become a blueprint for other theatres and really injects the feel-good factor into everyone.

"Having worked across the country, I'm quite amazed at the amount of quality community dancers and theatre performers we have in Swindon.

"It really is the cream of the crop, the Premier League of local groups."

Among some of the big-names to have appeared at the Wyvern recently are Bobby Davro, Freddie Starr, Tony Hadley and Chubby Brown.

And this year's pantomime, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, featuring Liam Dolan and Ross Davison, looks sets to be a smash.

Any plans to enlarge the theatre, which first opened its doors in 1971, would form part of the larger plans for the redevelopment of the area into a cultural quarter under discussion by the New Swindon Company and Swindon Council, who own the building.

To obtain details about ticket for the Summer Youth Project call Swindon 524481.