RUTH McKelvey suggests that York Theatre Royal ignores the next generation of theatre-goers (Letters, April 19). Nothing could be further from the truth.

Rather than thinking of the needs of young people just at Christmas time, they are at the very heart of the work we do all year round.

We work closely with the City of York Council to offer a range of services designed to support the National Curriculum, helping students and their teachers explore plays and get more from the resource than this theatre offers.

We're also expanding our education department and from September, we will offer a Youth Theatre to ensure many more young people are able to enjoy the opportunities of theatre-making, as well as theatre-going.

To show our commitment to bringing drama to life in York, we've even introduced a kids go free scheme. You won't find a theatre that offers young people and families a better deal than this.

Ruth McKelvey also takes us to task for offering great deals to all our playgoers with huge discounts and advance booking offered if they visit us several times a season.

Everyone is able to access these huge savings and benefits but for those who choose not, we are still opening full public booking from July 15 - that's nearly five months before the first pantomime performance. We are also improving our telephone system to keep queues to a minimum.

Last year more than 50,000 people saw Berwick Kaler in our family pantomime and we hope to welcome every one of them back again for Babbies In The Wood - whatever their age.

Ludo Keston,

Chief Executive,

Theatre Royal,

Duncombe Place, York.

...I READ Ruth McKelvey's letter about the pantomime at the Theatre Royal with interest (April 19). My sympathy is with the box office staff who have to fob off customers with this loyalty nonsense. The new system is cynical exploitation.

I expect (as will the management) the people of York will flock in their usual thousands to book for their pantomime and their dame whose own unfailing loyalty and unique talent has given us all so much pleasure year after year.

Should they do so, they will pay for costly tickets with few, if any, of the concessions to which they are accustomed. The management will then believe that the changes they have made are not only justifiable and successful, but acceptable too.

They may be confident that they know best. Sadly, they understand nothing - certainly not about loyalty.

Ann Waumsley,

Usher Park,

Haxby, York.

Updated: 11:12 Thursday, April 25, 2002