Tiny Glaisdale threatre may have to become a charity to stage further world premiers.

THERE'S a cash crisis looming for the tiny theatre at Glaisdale, near Whitby, just as the 100-seater venue is celebrating a world premiere and a guestlist tonight that includes patron Ian Carmichael OBE and Sir Alan Ayckbourn.

This year the three-week summer season production of Friends Uninvited, by Alan's son Steven Ayckbourn, initially required funding of £32,000 until the Arts Council turned down the company's request for £10,000.

Choreographer and dance judge Sheila Carter, who runs the company based at the village's Robinson Institute with actor/director husband Mark Stratton, reveals that a desperate struggle then took place to find enough money to open the show last night.

"We needed just over £32,000 because this production is transferring to Middlesbrough Theatre (September 4-8). But we've read in the newspapers that the Government has taken £2.6m from Yorkshire Arts to put into the Olympics and that means a lot of small arts venues are suffering," explains Sheila who has been working unpaid to ensure that three professional actors can be employed to stage the show.

Fund-raising has included patron Malcom Hebden, Norris from Coronation Street, staging a show; blues guitarist Steve Phillips, from Robin Hood's Bay, playing at a dance and a pledge auction raising £3,000.

"The surprise bidding was for a day's work from the local joiner although a retired shopkeeper offering two hour's ironing produced a lot of interest," laughs Sheila.

Actors Beatrice Curnew, Mark Beardsmore and Hugo Thurston - who has already agreed to bat for Glaisdale's cricket team - were recruited after a London audition produced 500 candidates, most originally from the North. "We did also audition actors based in the North but we didn't think it was fair to ask jobbing actors to come up here to audition," says Sheila.

Probably what disappointed Esk Valley Theatre the most was encouragement to try for a £5,000 Arts Council grant and having that turned down as well after spending several days filling in forms.

"We are now looking at becoming a registered charity because Mark and I cannot fund everything and it will be a lot easier to raise money this way in future," says Sheila, who is hoping that ticket sales, volunteer efforts, loans of equipment and three generous £1,000 gifts from councils and businesses will help save the day.

There are no thoughts of Steven Ayckbourn's first ever two-act play for professional theatre being a gamble. Previously the 47-year-old Scarborough-based computer programming teacher has written experimental plays, mainly for amateur theatre. His wife volunteered a play on his behalf and Sheila and Mark were sent two one-act plays and Friends Uninvited which investigates the comedy potential of people who use websites such as the popular Friends Reunited.

"This is the kind of area that his father writes about so there is going to be a certain amount of comparison between the two but we feel this is the perfect two-act play for us. There was a time when no one would consider plays from Steven because of his name Ayckbourn and he was having to use a pseudonym," says Sheila.

Husband Mark Stratton has taken on directing duties having spent the early months of the year touring The Tempest with Northern Broadsides.

"The company ended up touring to China which is quite something just after you've played places like Bolton and Bradford," she adds.

Mark is constantly being recognised in the street currently because he is the "Calgon man" in commercials featuring a tablet which stops washing machines from furring up.

I can add another accolade, I was discussing this claim to fame for Mark while shopping with my wife and she went straight off and bought a packet... so you're doing a great job Mark.