THE Swan Theatre loses its artistic director, associate director, master carpenter and marketing manager today, in the first wave of staff departures.

Staff at the troubled theatre were made redundant before Christmas after the board was unable to convince the city council not to slash its funding by £83,000.

After more than eight years as artistic director, Jenny Stephens leaves the Swan to return to freelance directing and develop her writing career with a radio play in the pipeline.

"There are some lovely memories," she said.

"Plays like Private Lives, The Importance of Being Earnest and The Rivals were a joy to produce."

Ms Stephens is also proud of the musical Christmas plays the theatre has premiered over the past six years.

"Pinocchio was a lovely piece to finish with."

Seven years ago Ms Stephens started the Swan Playwrights and was a key figure in bringing new work by local writers to the stage, including the Century Plays, Victorian Voices and Red Skies Over the Severn, by award-winning playwright Lance Woodman.

Associate director Kim Greengrass, who joined the theatre in 1998, also fondly remembers the Century Plays.

"It brought together so many different strands of our work - new writing, professional productions and a community company," she said.

Ms Greengrass will also be returning to freelance directing, working with Sphinx in London. Wardrobe supervisor Brigit Pimm plans to work in costume design in Ibiza but youth leader leader Mel Lewis hopes to stay in the county.

"Just working with young people is so rewarding," she said.

"I can't help feeling guilty because the youth theatre isn't going to exist anymore and the young people are going to have nothing to do."

Master carpenter Dave Dewhurst also leaves today, as does marketing manager Liz Richards.

"We regret the break up of such a wonderful and excellent team of people," said Gerald Harris, chairman of the Swan's board of directors.