The Swindon Advertiser has launched a campaign to highlight grassroots theatre in the area after the town’s main theatre was closed down because of an asbestos scare.

The Wyvern in Swindon is shut until at least next summer for refurbishment, so to make sure theatre-lovers in the town are fully up to date with all the shows in town, the paper has launched the Support Our Shows initiative.

The paper is already flagging up where any rescheduled shows moved from the Wyvern will be held, but the main thrust of Support Our Shows is to invite local groups to contribute the details of where and when their shows are.

It has set up a dedicated section on its website, and has been featuring various drama groups in the paper.

Advertiser editor Mark Waldron said: “It’s been a really popular idea, and lots of groups have got in touch.

“We profile each group in turn, and then add their show’s details to a rolling list which is fast becoming a definitive at-a-glance guide to local productions.

“Swindon’s got an amazingly talented amateur theatre scene – many of the shows put on by local groups put professional productions to shame.

“If some good can come from the closure of the Wyvern, it will be that these groups get the exposure and profile they so richly deserve.”