YOUR article (LET, May 15) on the Red Brick Theatre, Blackburn, receiving a most generous donation from Porter, Matthews and Marsden to create a foyer bar is to be highly applauded. I, for one, will certainly drink a toast to them.

However, although not wanting to appear rude or ungrateful, is not the name being given to that bar a little ... well, boring? (And before that old clich is thrown in - I know not all accountants are).

I mean, 'PM & M Bar!' It sounds to me more like a doctor's prescription either for preventing a monthly stress condition, or an excessive 'M & M's' chocoholic tendency!

Of course, I am well aware that he who pays the piper calls the tune and hasten to add, on behalf of all local theatre fans, thank goodness local businesses are prepared to sponsor the arts. Likewise, it is most understandable for a company to want to promote their corporate brand or image.

But, surely, a little theatrical licence could be taken to produce a more cool and catchy name.

Might I presume and suggest, say 'Porter's Bar?' And talking of bar stools - a little query addressed to the Red Brick Theatre At Ewood: Noting their present "Be a theatre bum" project, what happened to all those £50 theatre seats and £10 bricks which were bought in the early 1980s?

I was involved on both a company and personal front with both of these, and I know of others who were 'friends of the Empire' and who are asking the same question.

Were we victims of a bum deal - does anyone know of a good accountant. Have we perhaps been relegated like another Ewood neighbour, or will the Empire strike back?

As a thirsty thespian, I'd like to think that when Blackburn's own live theatre at long last goes 'live,' there is a welcome and reserved seat, along with a glass of porter, awaiting me in the auditorium and/or theatre bar.

J ERIC NOLAN, Bryers Croft, Wilpshire.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.