West End to get X-ratings

The West End in-house magazine Theatregoer is proposing that plays be classified in the same way as films.

The magazine has suggested a system to warn audiences of nudity, such as in The Graduate, simulated sex, violence or drug consumption.

Editorial director Paul Keers said: "It is a question of providing the same kind of guidance that you get on videos." Mark Ravenhill, writer of Shopping and F***ing and Mother Clapp's Molly House, hit out at the move and Michael Grade, former Channel 4 chief, said: "I think it's classic English nannying gone absolutely barking mad."