PROTESTERS complaining about plans to bring commercial management to Malvern Theatres are being urged to write to district councillors to state their objections.

Tony Marsden, secretary of Malvern Theatre Association, said it was important for ordinary theatregoers to contact their councillors.

"It shouldn't just be groups associated with the theatre that express their opposition," he said.

"We need members of the public to make their feelings known."

Malvern Theatres Trust and Malvern Hills District Council are in talks with the Surrey-based Ambassador Theatre Group over the future management of the complex.

Consulted

But the theatre association has been assured by a leading councillor that it will be consulted before any decision has been made.

In a letter to Mr Marsden, deputy council leader Paul Cumming said: "The council would want to discuss the issues with all interested parties, especially your association, prior to any decision being made to ensure that any concerns are properly addressed.

"No decision has been made or is imminent, and to support such a change in the future I should personally want to be convinced that a number of safeguards were in place, financially, operationally and artistically."

The council is reviewing its funding of the theatre, currently running at £204,000 a year, as part of its duties under Best Value regulations.