Reprieve on the way as Arts Council reviews cuts

Arts groups in London facing the axe in a funding row have been given a glimmer of hope.

Theatres, orchestras and dance companies are under threat after the Arts Council revealed plans to slash funding to almost 200 organisations.

The decision sparked outrage in the arts community with hundreds of actors, directors and producers including Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Judi Dench and Nicholas Hytner protesting that it would cause many theatres and centres to close for good.

Sir Christopher Frayling, head of Arts Council England, has confirmed he has reconsidered the decision to cut funding, suggesting many groups could be saved. Sir Christopher has denied hewas influenced by the wave of protests. He said: "It is not the decibel count which has influenced us, but reasoned argument."

The council decided to redistribute its £417 million budget at the end of last year, despite a £50 million increase in Government funding. A total of 194 groups - nearly one in five of the theatres, orchestras and organisations funded by the council - were told they faced grant cuts.

The Bush Theatre in Shepherd's Bush, where writers Stephen Poliakoff and Mark Ravenhill began their careers, was one of the London venues under threat - despite having enjoyed one of the biggest hits of last year - a production of Elling, starring John Simm.

Sir Tom Stoppard, Harold Pinter and Sir Salman Rushdie all backed the fight to save the theatre and bosses appealed against the decision. It is now believed the theatre has been saved.

Chamber orchestra The London Mozart Players and the Anjali Dance group - for dancers with learning difficulties - are also thought to have been given a reprieve.

Nine regions of the Arts Council have considered a total of 126 appeals from the 194 groups that were expecting to lose their funding or suffer severe cuts.

Their decisions have now been made and will be discussed, then confirmed by the national council tomorrow. The arts organisations will hear the decision on Thursday. A spokeswoman for the council said: "We've always said that nothing is a fait accompli. The proposal was just that, a proposal. We have no doubt that some proposals will be overturned."