Save our Theatres

The Edwardian and Victorian theatres of London are among its great treasures but many are crumbling - and the Evening Standard is championing the cause to change this.

The first concerted cry for help was made by the Theatres Trust in 2003. It carried out a thorough inventory of the capital's theatre real estate and concluded £250 million was required to bring it up to date. That figure is now thought to be around the £300 million mark.

Some theatre owners have instituted a dedicated restoration fund levy on ticket prices which others could also yet adopt. But it is unlikely to be enough. And the economics of theatre ownership makes it unlikely that some venues will ever make the profits required to pay for the work needed.

So as a passionate supporter of theatre in this city, the Evening Standard is asking everyone who cares about the London stage to bring forward ideas for other ways to help. For surely the shows must go on.