JUDI DENCH - STARS PLEAD TO SAVE THEATRE COMPANY

DAME JUDI DENCH, DAME MAGGIE SMITH, EMMA THOMPSON and JEREMY IRONS are among a host of British stars who have joined forces to save one of the U.K's oldest theatres from closure. Over 120 prestigious actors and actresses have agreed to lend their names to a petition which objects to the closure of the Bristol Old Vic for 18 months while it undergoes GBP7 million ($14 million) refurbishment work. The stars are against plans to hire out the venue for weddings and conferences, as many believe the resident Old Vic Theatre Company will be killed off. The petition says, "What is clear is that the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company is in danger of being allowed to fade away." Die Hard star Alan Rickman adds, "Would somebody please explain why I am receiving letters asking for money to preserve the fabric of a building which appears to have nothing happening in it?" However a spokesperson for the 1766-built theatre insists the work is necessary, and will raise much-needed funds for the venue: "Ten weddings in a year gives you GBP30,000 ($60,000). It's the kind of money we have to look to."