It's as well equipped as the Theatre Royal and like the Old Vic in miniature. MATT CLARK meets the volunteers who keep York's only Art Deco theatre running.

BEFORE TV what did people do with themselves at night? Some went to the pub, others to a dance. By 1927 still more were tuning into the radio, with its Reithian directive to "inform, educate and entertain".

Eight years later chocolate magnates and philanthropists the Rowntree family decided to adopted the same mantra for their workers by building a theatre opposite the Haxby Road factory 'that may be a fitting centre for those recreational and educational activities that make for a full and happy life'.

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A tunnel was constructed under the road to the canteen, now the Nuffield hospital, and for rainy days a covered walkway led to the theatre. Plays aside, during factory hours films were showed in segments so they could be watched during the course of the day.

Everitt Butler worked at Rowntrees for 43 years and remembers coming to the movies during his lunch break.

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"They showed all the old black and white classics," he says. "The first to come across were the women. 12 til one they had their dinner, the first half hour in the canteen, the second in here.

"In my early days I was in engineering at the factory, so I also used to come over to carry out maintenance."

He still does.

Now a volunteer at the theatre, Everitt, known as Ev, 'because he's ever here' quips one of the stewards, can turn his hand at most things from fixing a blocked loo to testing the emergency lighting.

"Sundays are the best," he says. "I get double time then. Twice as much as nothing."

Joseph Rowntree is York's only Art Deco theatre, though perhaps more art than deco, as befits the Quaker ethic. It's also among the best equipped with a rising stage, orchestra pit and full lighting rig. It's like the Old Vic in miniature.

Not to mention the full height fly tower, which allows scenery to be 'flown' up until it is out of sight of the audience. Just three of the city's theatres have such an arrangement, The Grand Opera House and the Theatre Royal being the other two.

One thing you won't find, however, is a bar. Rowntree frowned on alcohol, but chocolate was another matter and still is. So one of the jobs front of house director Julian Cripps carries out is stocking up the confectionary and making sure it's correctly priced.

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A former customs man, Julian would seem to be the perfect man for the job. Although he's discovered, as is always the case with volunteers, it's always hard to say no.

"When our treasurer left the job description was so massive we thought no one will do this for nothing, so we split it all up," says Julian. "So now I do all the banking as well."

And a fair bit more besides.

Betty Taylor-Gregg doesn't say no to a bit of extra work either. As a box office attendant, she spends the afternoon's quieter moments knitting hats and scarves to raise money for the theatre.

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"We're all volunteers and that's why I like it," says Betty. "My grand daughter thinks its wonderful her granny sells ice cream. I think she has visions of me walking up and down the aisle dressed as an usherette."

The box office volunteers are the newest group, with the theatre having launched the facility in May. All shows from September will be sold exclusively from the theatre's own box office. It is open six days a week from 10am until 2pm, except Tuesday, plus Thursday evenings.

But none of this would matter if there wasn't a show to put on. Thirteen year old Gabriella Commins is the daughter of one of the trustees and last week performed on stage at Generations in Harmony.

"I was asked to sing with the choir and on my own," she says. "I also did a show here when I was eight and hopefully will do more when I'm back during school holidays. It's a lovely community, all the volunteers are really great."

Gary Bateson, another trustee, has been treading the boards slightly longer.

"It's licensed showing off, really, the chance to be someone different, slightly extrovert and to entertain people," he says." I began in my teenage years then work and everything else got in the way. Later I had this opportunity to go back on stage and got the most amazing buzz. I came off and thought I've just stood in front of almost 400 people for a couple of hours. It was like wow."

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When Gary finally comes back down to earth, his other responsibilities include everything from front of house to hospitality, not to mention keeping the garden pristine.

"It's my baby," he says. "I also look after the Monday crew where we do weekly alarm tests and minor repairs. But we're always looking for more volunteers, whether backstage or front of house.

"You don't have to have worked in a theatre before, just come along and we'll show you what to do."