WHILE I appreciate the financial constraints put upon local government these days, I was saddened to learn City of York Council was planning to reduce substantially its funding for Stagecoach Youth Theatre York Ltd of which I am a patron.

Quite apart from it being a successful youth theatre and one that amazingly created its own performance venue which is also used by many other groups - I know from experience of the Stephen Joseph's youth theatre what encouragement, confidence and inspiration such organisations give to young people. At a time when it is increasingly important to motivate the youth in our cities for the good, youth theatres such as Stagecoach provide a vital service involving a wide range of young people in a creative group activity. I respectfully ask those councillors responsible for funding the arts in York to reconsider their decision.

Sir Alan Ayckbourn CBE,

Artistic Director,

Stephen Joseph Theatre,

Scarborough.

Updated: 10:21 Thursday, January 12, 2006