David Andrews (Letters, October 29) is spot on. The Theatre Royal's programme this autumn is first class.

I, too, enjoyed The Deep Blue Sea but in a half-full theatre.

The place was packed the previous week for The Play What I Wrote - the Morecambe and Wise take off.

Clearly a few productions are being marketed successfully.

This is the case right across the city where there is a lot of highly entertaining live theatre - but so much fails to get bums on seats.

Most people have never experienced the thrill of good, live theatre. This is such a great pity as much of it is highly accessible.

No one could have watched the recent Vincent In Brixton and not enjoyed it. Theatre can move, stimulate, amuse and upset in a way television and film cannot.

Live theatre's image is too middle aged, white and middle class. The National Theatre has been attracting big mixed audiences by aggressive marketing and cheap tickets.

It has reduced individual ticket prices but filled more seats and not lost income.

Clearly life is more complicated for unsubsidised theatre.

But I would dearly like to see the Theatre Royal be even more adventurous, particularly in its ticket pricing and advertising.

Theatre-goers themselves could do more proselytising.

It is such a pleasure to share good theatre with a friend who has never been before.

Try to go to the city's more fringe theatre - sometimes this can be a bit rough and ready but often there are wonderful, stimulating productions and all for less than the cost of a round of drinks.

-John Kernaghan, Hove