HAVING been to see a recent production in the Joseph Rowntree Theatre I turned with interest to the review by Charles Hutchinson to see what he thought ("Fame beckons for hotbed of young talent," June 17).

I did not expect to find it beginning with derogatory remarks about an entirely different theatre group.

Surely a theatrical review is a stand-alone analysis of a production, not a "compare and contrast" exercise?

Even if Mr Hutchinson's snide comments were accurate, perhaps the phrase "other York groups" might have been more diplomatic than such bitter name-dropping.

Mrs K A Lynam,

Collingwood Avenue,

Holgate,

York.

Updated: 10:39 Thursday, June 24, 2004