THE Wyvern Theatre is being blacklisted by actors because of its extortionate parking charges.

Veteran theatre producer Charles Vance says he has been told by acting agents that they will no longer send actors to Swindon because of the cost.

And it's so bad that former Doctor Who Colin Baker, currently rehearsing for this Christmas's panto Dick Whittington, is having to park over at the County Ground and walk to avoid parking charges of up to £30 a day.

Mr Vance, who will be producing his seventh panto at the theatre this Christmas said: "I'm heartbroken. I've had actors' agents saying that they're no longer encouraged to send actors to the Wyvern because the parking is so bad, and I can't blame them.

"Some of these actors are having to pay up to £30 a day to park that's £1,080 for a six-week panto run just on parking."

Unlike many civic theatres in England, actors and staff working at the Wyvern theatre have to pay parking like everyone else.

There are a few spaces at the stage door of the theatre allocated to the theatre, but Mr Vance says that because they are not clearly marked, they are used more often than not by office workers' cars and vans. He also said there are not enough spaces in the cheaper long stay car parks near the theatre.

Mr Vance claims that the Wyvern is now so renowned in the acting world for its terrible parking situation that some actors say they'll go anywhere else apart from here.

He said: "What the council don't seem to realise is that these people are providing a public and community service. Council workers don't have to pay to park in the Civic Centre, the mayor doesn't have to park his car, so why should actors coming to the town have to shell out over a thousand pounds to do so?"

Hugo Myatt, who will be starring as King Rat in the theatre's Christmas panto Dick Whittington said: "Parking is a real problem and if it continues I would say that it would put off actors coming to perform here."

Nicki Western, marketing manager at the Wyvern, said: "Actors on a break between shows who are wearing full make-up have the added problem of going out to buy more tickets or to move their cars all the time.

"The Wyvern is known as being a lovely place to work so we have no problem attracting good actors here. What would be really great was if we the council could allocate us some parking for actors, maybe in a residential area close-by, or if a business could give us some space"

Council spokeswoman Lynda Fleming said: "The top two levels of the Wyvern multi-storey cost £5.90 for up to 24 hours and anyone parking after 6pm will pay £1 for up to two hours and £1.50 for more than two hours."

Responding to claims that both the long term floors in the multi-storey and Spring Gardens are full up each day with season ticket holders, she added: "They have to take their chances with everyone else."