It's showtime

Showgoers whose usual experience of the Wyvern is limited to the auditorium, the foyer, the caf and the bar were welcomed backstage. There were also information stands and displays in the foyer, giving details of the range of shows on offer during the year.

Wyvern marketing manager Nicki Western said: "Anyone can come in and look around the foyer or the rest of the theatre, and anyone who would like a full tour can book one at any time."

Marketing assistant Jamie Walker added: "We see this as a chance to promote theatre as a whole."

The front line staff at the Wyvern are box office manager Tina Ryan, 44, and box office cashier Jane Shrimpton, 42.

Tina is the wife of a former stage manager at the theatre, and has been box office manager for seven years.

She said: "I enjoy the challenges of this job they change all the time. Last week we were outside, helping the marketing department do an Abba tribute band promotion, and we had to dress up.

"And dealing with the public is a pleasure as well as a challenge. We get to know them quite well they are loyal people."

Jane added: "Even when a show is a sellout, there will still be people who come and ask us if we're absolutely, completely sure there are no seats left!"

Every actor, musician and other performer who appears on the Wyvern stage would be lost without the work of personnel who never appear in front of a spotlight or a microphone but who make sure the spotlights and microphones work perfectly and on time, night after night.

Wyvern technical manager David Wicks, 39, has been in charge for the past 11 years.

He explained: "I co-ordinate the whole of the backstage area. I look after lighting, sound, staging, and handle liaison between visiting companies and us. Every day is different, and I enjoy that. The job involves dealing with people and it is creative.

"I've also produced some of my own shows here, including Songs from the Shows. I've brought friends here from the West End to sing, and I also organised the 25th anniversary show in 1996 and the 30th last year.

"Those shows are always nice because you take them right from the beginning and see them grow. That's great."

Because the Wyvern was built fairly recently by theatre standards, it boasts more space and amenities than many.

For example, there is an Aladdin's cave of storage space behind and beneath the auditorium and an orchestra pit which can be raised or lowered according to the requirements of performers.

But it is not always plain sailing. David, along with colleagues Gareth Akers and Dominic Derbyshire, recalled some incidents which seem funny now but were less so at the time.

Among the most spectacular were two which happened during pantomimes; both involved the large trapdoor set into the stage. On one occasion the giant nearly made an unscheduled exit from a performance of Jack and the Beanstalk.

David said: "We were using the trapdoor to allow for somebody to come up. The giant had massive boots, and the timing of the show went wrong.

"We took the trap down, the giant came along, saying "ho, ho, ho", and then put his foot down the trap, nearly killing somebody beneath!

"The whole show came to a complete grinding halt, mainly because people were laughing so much.

"The audience thought the end of the show had come early, with the premature slaying of the dragon."

On another occasion, a Cinderella cast member in a rat costume one of a troupe of dancing rats caught his foot in the trap door and had to finish his dance routine in situ.

Overall control of the theatre falls to manager Ted Doan and his deputy Richard Evans, 29.

Richard wanted to work in theatre and the arts from childhood at 15 he dodged mock exams to make a film.

He said: "It's nicer for kids now, because there are more opportunities for them to get into theatre."

Richard was an actor between the ages of 16 and 20, and has worked as a singer in a Spanish bar, supermarket shelf stacker and a shop worker. His most recent stint of theatre work before coming to Swindon 11 months ago was in Manchester.

So why the Wyvern? "It's nice to come to a place like this, which believes it's just as good as any other theatre.

"It's a fantastic venue, and the people of Swindon support it well."