Sir – It is great news that the Corn Exchange, Witney, has reopened but I was dismayed to see that the stage has been completely removed during the restoration.
As a teenager I was involved in many productions with Witney Dramatic Society and I learnt a huge amount about the industry within which I would eventually work from being in that building. I’m sure there are many other professional performers from the Witney area who would say that the Corn Exchange provided their first experiences of performing on a proper stage.
I appreciate that the hall needs to be as versatile as possible in order to cater for the many different groups which use it, but it would appear that no space has been gained from the removal the stage but rather they have just plastered over what was once the proscenium.
Witney has some brilliant performing arts groups – The Jill Stew School of Dance, WOAPA and Witney Dramatic Society, but these groups need venues with good facilities in which to perform. I can’t help feeling that the town has lost more than it has gained from this restoration.
David Rose
Musical director – Shrek The Musical UK Tour
London NW10
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