Sir.-We have a lifelong love of music and theatre and, being community-minded, support very many of the concerts and musical shows offered by amateur companies at our local venues.

Many, though by no means all, are most credit-worthy and enjoyable but almost without exception offer a frequently-performed diet of "safe", often banal, works and performances.

It was, therefore, after cautious deliberation that we decided to go with visitors from Cambridge (also great theatre-lovers) to the community performance of All Change! at The Anvil.

What a revelation, what a satisfying evening! A witty and thought-provoking parable of our times; intelligent and poetic lyrics; music of a high quality - challenging and without clich.

Most remarkable was the quality of singing and performance. We loved the puppetry and the clever use of lighting.

According to pre-publicity, the performance involved entirely local people - many who were new to the stage. Our visitors felt some professionals might have been involved, apart from the directional team. We are assured this is not the case.

Our thanks for a truly refreshing and stimulating experience.

-Jane and Stephen Petheridge, Silchester Road, Mortimer.

Sir.-I went to see All Change! at The Anvil - wow! An easy option would have been for producer Nick Stimson to put on a musical like the tried-and-true Oklahama! (not that it hasn't been a hit for years) - but, no, he put on All Change! as written by Ian McMillan and Howard Moody.

A task indeed, to knock the people of Basingstoke into shape!

It worked. The show - which would have gone down equally as well nationally - was brilliant.

Another "Basingstoke - A Place To Be Proud Of" production.

Well done cast and crew alike.

-Mrs Dianne Harrod, Eastrop Lane, Basingstoke.