I READ with dismay about the threatened closure of Sunderland’s Royalty Theatre (Echo, Jan 23) where I have enjoyed numerous performances over the years.

While highlighting the importance of the excellent 200-seat amateur Royalty and the city’s wonderful 1,700-seat Empire Theatre, which caters largely for West End musicals, there is nowhere for Sunderland people to enjoy professional drama.

As an ex-Sunderland Polytechnic student who worked at the city centre Vaux Breweries for five years, my blood boils every time I pass the former Vaux site, partly because of what people are missing out on.

An 800-seat theatre there could host and produce drama, show independent films, host top stand-up comedy shows, be a music venue and be the centre of nurturing new talent in all these areas.

This is not to decry the efforts of those dedicated people in Sunderland who work at grass roots level in these disciplines, but a purpose-built community theatre would raise the stakes considerably.

My godson has moved to Sunderland to attend university. He loves the city and his course, but if he wants to see a band, watch an independent movie, visit the theatre or see a stand-up comic he goes through to Newcastle.

That speaks volumes. Who on the city council is responsible for this cultural disgrace?

Ed Waugh, Playwright, South Shields, Tyne and Wear.