Fingers crossed for roof windfall

Jan 4 2008 By John Slim

ROWNEY Green Peace Hall, which has just been awarded £94,000 - that's actually £80,000 plus VAT - from the People's Millions, is now one of 400 good causes out of an original 1,600 through to the second stage in its application for £350,000 from the Lottery.

The Peace Hall committee made its Lottery application before it discovered its success in the People's Millions, and will now be adjusting the application accordingly. Committee member Nigel Walker said: "We probably need £280,000 plus VAT and it's something we shall be talking about."

The Peace Hall, built about 40 years ago, is the headquarters of Rowney Green Players - a talented group which has been suffering lately because its props and wardrobe are intermittently damaged by a leaking roof.

Meanwhile, the Peace Hall committee has about six months to prepare its application for stage two to facilitate a complete refurbishment, but will not know how successful it has been until the end of the year. n I AM consumed with schism and doubt whenever I learn that Robin Hood and his Merry Men are about to be involved in a pantomime - usually with The Babes in the Wood.

The reason is that I am fairly certain that the men of Sherwood will be required to sing at some point - and every time I have seen them do this in various productions in the past, they have become Americans. It's all a bit disconcerting.

So I await with interest Robin Hood - The Panto, which From the Top will be presenting at Highbury Little Theatre, Sutton Coldfield, from Tuesday to Saturday next week

The group says that the show is a departure from the traditional Robin Hood panto, which custom tends to combine with The Babes in the Wood. If it also departs from the tradition of turning the lads into transatlantic tearaways at the drop of a baton, that will be a bonus.

Meanwhile, From the Top will be happy to welcome new members for its production of Anything Goes at the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, next October. Call Debbie Crump on 01283 791845.