THE show can't go on. That was the message from devastated members of Stagecoach Youth Theatre, after York leisure chiefs refused to save its funding.

The group was optimistic that members of City of York Council's leisure advisory panel would change their minds about cutting their £9,500 annual grant at a meeting last night.

But councillors voted to go ahead with the plan to reduce the handout by £2,000 a year until 2009, which theatre directors say will effectively deal a "death blow" to the youth group.

The decision came despite letters of support from big name patrons of the youth theatre, including York-born Oscar winner Dame Judi Dench, playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn, and Lord Feversham, of Duncombe Park, near Helmsley.

Dozens of Stagecoach youngsters held a noisy and colourful protest outside the Guildhall as councillors arrived for the meeting.

They held aloft banners which read The Show Must Go On and Peanuts To Them, Life's Blood To Us and repeatedly sang There Is A Light At The End Of The Tunnel, a song penned by theatre director John Cooper.

Mr Cooper, who handed over a 1,600-name petition at the meeting, said: "I'm devastated. Obviously they had made their minds up before they went into the meeting.

"They've made it very clear the decision is irreversible, unless they get more money from central Government. For the time being, we will keep fighting."

Stagecoach runs seven major productions a year, and has 140 members.

Sarah Gibbon, 13, of Earswick, appealed to councillors at the meeting on behalf of the group.

She said: "It's a real shame. I'm sorry for the young people in the future who won't get to experience it."

Coun David Evans, shadow executive member for leisure and heritage, supported by Coun Alan Jones, proposed that the grant should be reinstated, but he was voted down.

"The £2,000 to the council is a drop in the ocean, but the loss of £2,000 to Stagecoach is death," Coun Jones said.

Coun Keith Orrell blamed the loss of central Government funding on the decision. He said: "There has been much comment that Stagecoach only gets a few thousand pounds, so surely the council can find that.

"I am sure every person whose job is threatened could say exactly the same thing. But, in reality, it is the accumulation of lots of small amounts that adds up to the millions that have to be found."

Coun Orrell said they could reconsider the decision if the Government's council grant was increased.

The matter will now go before the council's ruling executive on February 17.

Updated: 09:45 Tuesday, January 17, 2006