YOUR correspondent BJ Anthony, Echo, March 15, says Exeter Northcott should go for popular shows.

He is quite right. It was the Arts Council which demanded that it should stage more experimental and esoteric productions or its grant would be stopped.

The Northcott did this, its audiences declined and now it has gone into administration.

In my view the Arts Council, having caused the problem by meddling, should bail the Northcott out and then let it get on with the job it knows best how to do and so give the people of Devon and Exeter the entertainment they want.

Michael Cook

Barnfield Road, Exeter