Theatre@41 is an independent theatre in York in a beautiful old church. Perhaps just a touch more beautiful in the outside than the inside - some of the back stage areas need a bit of TLC. In classic GoodGym fashion we made it look way worse before hopefully someone else makes it look better again.

We were tasked with stripping all the peeling paint we could reach in the green room and a stairwell. I say "green room" it was either brown or purple depending on who you asked but definitely not green. Either way, the paint was held on the wall only by force of habit and came off in sheets with the lightest on touches - in some areas not even needing a paint scrapper, it could be brushed off with a broom. For the team on the stairs it was more a case of knowing when to quit: it was a blurry line between peeling paint and crumbling plaster.

In much less than the alloted hour we'd stripped the paint from everything we could reach and turned to sweeping up, cheered along by Michael playing if you're happy and you know it on the piano. Then Nikki brought out her delicious banana and date cake before a team photo on the stairs like the bunch of luvvies that we are.

Take a bow team! We completed Act 2 of Theatre@41 - well nearly! There were some pallets that would be better reclaimed and rehoused. Everyone played their part well. Ed and Mitch set to, smashing up the pallets with hammers and a crow bar. It took some brute force and some deft wallops! New member Emma joined them with a blunt saw - thanks for trying Emma, some tools just don't cut it! Wood splinters flew, but they managed to avoid a tragedy! Andrea, Rebecca and I weeded and swept the front alley to theatre. It now looks fabulous. Now everyone make a fine entrance! Cara did a magnificent job of digging up all the roots in the border. Emma and I also gave the overhanging trees a haircut. Now the stars of the yard can take centre stage. I do like a happy ending. Thank you all. Great to have you in the crew Emma! That's all folks!

Four characters entered the stage, the scene; a jungle of vines and creepers. Their mission, to clear a path through to the forgotten olive groves. They set to, with the help of manager Tom, cutting, weeding, slashing and untangling their way. Some creepers had attached itself to the gravel in a fascinating way. But there was no time to stop. The plot thickened -towards the back. The explorers discovered hidden treasures, flower pots, a bike wheel and some garden tools. Finally they had succeeded. They made it to the shady groves. Peace restored. What a wonderful oasis it makes! To be continued....Act 2 next week. Take a bow team. Bravo!