IT'S a busy new year for local theatre company Proteus, who are as focused as ever on their hectic calendar for 2004.

After having worked with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council last month on a theatre-based training project for all staff to raise awareness of new technologies, the council will be using their newly acquired skills in the Customer Contact Centre, impacting on the staff's working lives and affecting future developments.

A team of five, including three professional actors and two Basingstoke council staff members, prepared and presented the workshops.

The professional actors included Andrea Seale, who has worked for Proteus on a number of occasions, including last summer as one of the lead actors on the community production The Basingstoke Mysteries, and Rob Cam and Emma Kruse, both of whom have worked on Basingstoke council projects in the past.

Tina Young, Basingstoke council customer service manager, commented: "Using Proteus to engage and inform staff has proved very popular in the past and again I am very pleased with the results of these workshops.

"The actors were a joy to work with and helped me immensely with the whole project, making it fun but focused."

Andrea Seale, added: "This was an interesting project to manage, particularly in terms of using drama to illustrate the key messages.

"It was interesting to see the debate and discussion points raised by each workshop group following the theatre presentation."

The training was held at the Civic Offices in early December, reaching 250 Basingstoke council staff. Positive feedback has been received from staff, concluding that the training was "fun and informative", and the new contact centre will be phased in during 2004.

Finally, don't miss your last chance to enjoy a fantastic theatrical production, as there are only two weeks remaining of the 10-week tour of The Extraordinary Tale of Colonel Cody - Wild West Showman and Hero of the Skies!

To find out where you can catch the show locally before it takes its last call on January 25 at 3pm in Brookvale Village Hall, Basingstoke, log on to the Proteus website at www.proteustheatre. com

The show is suitable for families, adults and children aged seven and above, and brings the tale of a fantastic local hero to life through comedy, original songs and Wild West skills!