Theatre's grandees lead Arts Council protest

DOZENS of representatives of Britain's subsidised theatre joined stars of the acting firmament, including Edward Woodward (left), met on London's South Bank last night to discuss the crisis in the Arts Council, writes Vanessa Thorpe.

Sir Peter Hall (right) chaired the meeting. He said that those attending, who included all the resigning members of the Arts Council Drama Panel, and the 62 signatories of a letter to the Secretary of State supporting the resignation, were acting out of genuine "anxiety.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY NEVILLE ELDER