WHEN is this 'racial claptrap' going to end? Recently, it was reported that a production of 'Showboat' was cancelled - because the white actors couldn't 'black up.'

Now, I read that a new ITV production of Oliver Twist, written by Charles Dickens decades ago, has to depict Fagin as a 'magician from Eastern Europe.' The reason? - because his previously being depicted as having a hooked nose and East London background is regarded as racial stereotyping.

But couldn't it be that this is what gave Fagin's character some authenticity in the first place?

KATHLEEN BULCOCK, Wilkie Avenue, Burnley.

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