Leading orchestras threatened

Three of the four leading London orchestras have been ordered by the Arts Council to appear before a judge and prove they deserve grants.

And up to 10 theatres could go to the wall in the most severe cuts the arts have seen for years.

Celebrated regional theatres such as the Belgrade, Coventry, the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, the Bristol Old Vic, the Bolton Octagon, and the Lyric, Hammersmith and Watford and Greenwich theatres face losing Arts Council grants.

The London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic and Philharmonia orchestras will make submissions to Lord Justice Hoffman, who as well as being a Lord Justice of Appeal is a board member of the English National Opera. The London Symphony Orchestra will not have to compete.

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