MY wife and I have just returned from a night at the Wyvern Theatre and what an experience of sheer delight having sat through a performance of The Sound of Music given by Kentwood.

Several months ago Kentwood's musical director Sheila Harrod, mentioned to me that she was thinking of staging a musical with Kentwood.

I must admit that my first reaction to Sheila's thoughts of doing a full blown musical left me thinking that as a singing group Kentwood has no equals but a musical production on the scale of The Sound of Music surely would require not only singers but also actors.

I was not sure if the choir could aspire to this demand but I was totally wrong. They could and they did. I was amazed with the acting, it really was excellent and, of course, the singing was second nature to this Kentwood family.

The costumes and the choreography was excellent, this together with the scenery and the orchestra which would have graced any theatre in the country, made this show equal to any professional version I have ever seen.

There is little more to say except congratulations and thanks to Sheila and Kentwood. Swindon is proud of you for giving so much of your time and talent, to help so many charities and at the same time entertain people who are privileged to be in the audience of any Kentwood show.

The words of the song featured in The Sound of Music titled Climb Every Mountain says, "follow every rainbow till you find your dream" Well Kentwood, keep dreaming and I sincerely hope that you will stage another musical in 2001. I am once again left wanting for more.

JOHN HOLMES

Windsor Road, Swindon