A massive cut in fundingfor a specialist Wimbledon theatre threatens to curtail entertainment and education for thousands of children across London.

The Polka opened in The Broadway 24 years ago and is the only theatre in Britain producing and presenting work specifically aimed at children.

The Association of London Government (ALG), which pools money from London's 33 councils, told the Polka last week that its annual £90,000 grant is likely to be axed.

The recommendation will be presented to the ALG grants committee at a meeting on Wednesday for a decision.

The ALG said in a letter to the theatre the proposed cut is due to a high number of bids, limited funding and the need to ensure "a strategic spread of funding across London."

The theatre draws around half its yearly audience of 100,000 children from Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Merton, Wandsworth, and Croydon with children from Lambeth, Tower Hamlets and Southwark also involved in some of its projects

It says the loss of the £90,000, which would hit the theatre in April, would destroy its education work as well as make visits difficult for children who have special needs or come from low-income families.

The Polka is appealing against the recommendation and asking for public support.

People can help by contacting their borough representative on the ALG grants committee by post or email by no later than Tuesday (February 4).

Kingston: Councillor Rolson Davies (Liberal Democrat) email: Rolson.davies@councillors.kingston.gov.uk

Richmond: Councillor Pat Parsons (Conservative) email pparsons@richmond.gov.uk.

January 31, 2003 11:00