Spluttering protest

SIR – It is not only theatres that are plagued by those who “cough excessively loudly”(report, February 26). Concert halls are similarly affected, with individuals making no effort to stifle their coughs with a handkerchief – or, at the least, wait for a loud section of orchestration.

I am sure that if they were attending Centre Court at Wimbledon or a major golf tournament they would not dream of coughing at the vital moment. Alexandra Rous

Harrogate, North Yorkshire

SIR – I completely agree with the actor Martin Shaw regarding the cacophony of coughing that occurs in theatres.

We attended a theatre a few days ago to see a thriller and could barely hear the dialogue because of the coughing. Maybe the theatre could try selling cough sweets at the interval instead of ice cream. Carol Thompson

Shepperton, Middlesex