The future of the be Theatre in Sutton is in doubt after a government report spreads fears of closure．The report says the theatre does not meet modem standards for arts s and the site is capable of a larger-scale (更大规模的) development．While it promises to plan for a neighborhood center, it fails to make any mention of a new theatre, which has left many asking why.
Leading figures from the arts circle have come togther to fight for the 21-year-old theatre.
Barbara Windsor, chairman of the Performing Art Society, said: 'If they have to tear it down it would be a waste of a good theatre．Every town needs a heart.'
John Stevens, of Sutton Theatre Company, said the theatre had suffered from a lack of money and business support．'There's a crying need for a theatre in Sutton and the public will lose out if the be goes.'
Peter Geiringer, a city government official also argued that a neighborhood center was not the same as a theatre．'It's silly; this is the death of the be．They're going to replace (代替) it by a hall so no one in Sutton will be able to go to a real theatre.'
Leslie Coman, member of city committee for the arts, said: 'The be has played an out- standing role in the cultural life of this town over many years．It is only right that the committee continues to look at how it can provide new buildings for artists' workshops, and performances.'
Sutton Arts Committee Chairman Tony Kerslake said: 'At some stage a building comes to the end of its life．If a new one was built in the same place, I would accept that as progress.'
The government report makes people wonder whether the theatre will be______.