Should a theatre brochure reveal what the patrons may expect to see in the immediate future – or only part of the prospects?

It seems that I was worrying needlessly last week in reporting that the brochure I found in the bar of Birmingham’s Crescent Theatre contained no reference to the musical societies that tend to arrive at the #4 million canalside venue in substantial numbers at this time of the year.

But there are, I now understand, not one but two brochures and they are intended to be taken in tandem – the other one, the one I didn’t see, being dedicated to visiting groups but also containing references to the Crescent’s own productions up to April. The reason for the separation is to make it easier to change the visitors’ brochure when one or more of them come in, drop out or make a date change.

Crescent chairman Andrew Lowrie told me he would not like anyone to think the theatre was not advertising hirers’ productions – which it is doing with posters as well as with the second brochure.

"We enjoy our visiting companies and we’ve decided we will issue a brochure for their shows more frequently", he said. "For us, it’s all about growth.

"Perhaps the impression we’re giving is that we’re ditching the old Crescent and moving into a new world. We’re not doing that. It’s all about growth and what we need to do is to push it along a bit more. We’re enjoying far better houses for our own shows than for a long time – and we’re not ditching our logo [a crescent moon] and there’s no danger of slow suicide."

There is a link between the two brochures in as much as the brochure for visiting companies also contains a note of the Crescent’s own imminent shows. This is fine, but I’m still anxious.

It is vital that wherever one brochure is displayed, the other one should be prominently alongside. That should ensure that no one else falls into the trap of thinking that either brochure represents all that is on offer at the West Midlands’ finest amateur venue.

Meanwhile, I hasten to point out that the Crescent and I have not fallen out over my misinterpretation of the new system. After all, it is Valentine’s Day.

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Hall Green Little Theatre has hit a hiatus. Casting problems caused the postponement of Sleuth, which should have opened last Friday.

Not that Anthony Shaffer’s excellent drama imposes demands in the matter of numbers. Quite the reverse – but because it is a two-hander the stress it places on the two men involved are enormous and it could not be coped with in the wake of Christmas.

So a "murder night" play, The Case of the Missing Diamond, was slotted in to replace it – but this was cancelled because of lack of numbers to present it. And now The Live Bed Show, to have been presented in the studio from March 5-10, has been postponed in the hope of being given an airing next season.

Sleuth, however, has now been cast and is at present definite for early next season, opening on September 7.

Oldbury Rep has also had to pull the studio production of The Rattle of a Simple Man which should have opened last Wednesday and been running until the end of this week. It’s been a question of finding the appropriate personnel necessary to fit the roles.

So 2007 has provided a rocky ride so far for our little theatres. The good news from Hall Green is that the opportunity is being taken to do some refurbishment and catch up with new fire regulations before re-opening with the theatre’s birthday production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Absurd Person Singular on April 13.

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Playwright Peter Roberts praises the efforts that are being made by members of Wolverhampton’s Central Youth Theatre, to help him to write a play about the city’s former Sunbeam company.

He says: "The research done by CYT members so far will give me a strong basis to work on and help audiences to understand and enjoy something that they may not have lived through.

"From my point of view, it is brilliant to see that these young people are really interested in the company and its former workers."

Peter has a successful background of writing both for theatres and for BBC Radio Four. His new play will be at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, from September 20-22.

WHAT’S ON
Perfect Pitch, Circle Players, Aldridge Youth Theatre (to Saturday).
O Go, My Man, Birmingham School of Acting, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham (to Saturday).
The Rubenstein Kiss, Birmingham School of Acting, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham (to Saturday).
As You Like It, Let’s Go Drama Group, Stratford-upon-Avon Civic Hall (tomorrow).
Misery, Swan Theatre Amateur Company, Swan Theatre, Worcester (Feb 15-24).
Closer, The Nonentities, Rose Theatre, Kidderminster (Feb 19-24).
The Thickness of Skin, Birmingham School of Acting, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham (Feb 21-24).
Hello Again, Birmingham School of Acting, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham (Feb 22-24).