SUPPORT is pouring in for The Gazette's Save Our Haymarket campaign.

Even respected broadcaster David Dimbleby has backed the cause.

When asked to sign the petition after the recording of BBC One's Question Time at The Anvil on Thursday, Mr Dimbleby said: "Certainly - anything to save local theatre."

And Question Time panellists MP Simon Hughes and Claire Fox, from the Institute of Ideas, both gave their signatures in support of the campaign.

Local politicians, theatre-goers and staff at the Haymarket have backed the campaign to get arts council bosses to reconsider a proposal to axe a massive chunk of funding for the theatre after 2007.

The Arts Council England, South East (ACESE) is considering scrapping its annual grant of £262,656, following a review in November last year which highlighted concerns with the management, marketing and overall image of the Wote Street theatre.

If the recommendation is accepted and funding is lost, the curtain could come down on in-house productions.

Following the launch of The Gazette's campaign last week, people have flocked to the theatre to sign the petition. Haymarket chief executive Zoe Curnow said, at the last count, at least 500 people had already signed - including actress Susannah York, star of The Shell Seekers, which ended its run at the theatre on Saturday.

Marion Clarke, chairman of the Haymakers - a voluntary group that helps to staff the theatre - said: "It is a great start to the campaign and everyone has been really supportive. Hopefully, the momentum will continue.

"The arts council simply hasn't given the very hard-working staff of the theatre a chance to show how they can build on the excellent progress they have made in the past year."

Councillor Andrew McCormick, who represents Popley East on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, signed the petition and said he was concerned that another of the few remaining pieces of the town's heritage would disappear.

He said: "The Haymarket has been here for years and both my parents and I have been involved in some way or another for years.

"It would be a great shame indeed if it was put in jeopardy by the cancellation of this grant."

Cllr McCormick is calling on all local councillors to put their political differences aside and work together to help save the theatre.

Catherine Hopkins, chairman of the board at the theatre, admitted there are always new challenges to be faced in an organisation like the Haymarket, but claimed initial concerns about the theatre in 2004 are no longer relevant.

"We are in the middle of a three-year recovery plan that had the full support of all our funders only 18 months ago," she said.

"It is far too early to judge us on our new start.

"I would have hoped that the arts council would operate a more inclusive policy of bringing theatre to everyone, rather than the old-fashioned patronage that operated in the past."

The board submitted a rebuttal to ACESE on Friday, which addresses inaccuracies that members feel are present in the report and puts forward what they see as the theatre's mitigating circumstances.

The funding cut recommendation will be discussed by members of ACESE on February 10, after which a decision will be made by executive director Felicity Harvest and communicated to the theatre by February 17.

First published: Monday, January 30, 2006