... Sir, surely the official archivist of the Royal Opera House is both in consistent and naive when he couples a demand in rather menacing tones for the nationalisation of the private collec tions of theatrical relics and playbills of Mr. Macquecn-Pope. myself and all other collectors of such material with an appeal to those of us who are your readers to present our as yet legally un nationalised ...

... To the Editor of The Stage Dear Sir,--I read with interest last week your Leader on unemployment in the profession, and also Miss Moore's letter on material. Many provincial theatres are practically empty except at the Saturday shows. The reason would seem to be a combination of two things, poorly produced and rehearsed shows and old material. I have always failed to understand how shows ...

... To the Editor of The Stage. Dear Sir. It k welcome news that works arc m the course of preparation on the life and achievements of William Poel. I should like to remind hk biographers that a valuable collection ...

... To the Editor of The Stage. Dear Sir. To-day is Actors' Day; please allow me. through your columns, to draw the attention of the profession to the society of that name, founded in 1906. The original members contributed to U>e fund the amount they earned on 1 the third Thursday in October. Some still do this; others less fortunate pay a minimum subscription of £1 per year. In return for this, ...

... To the Editor of The Stage. Dear Sir. May I call your attention to the following? In 1947 Geoffrey Kendal and Peter Merit on formed a small company of six artists, to present abridged Shakespeare plays, in an Elizabethan setting, to the schools and colleges of India. The company was private enterprise Despite hair-raising adventures in remote places the tour was a great success, thanks in part ...

... To the Editor of Tin Stage. Sir. Would il he possible for you, in your column*, to nsk all artis-t*, when writing for work and sending managements photograph* and other particular! that en II for a reply, to enclose a stamped addressed envelope with their itppliealion* In this office we try to reply personally to all applicants, but when one receives jnvihitiK from 60 to 100 letters a day i ...

... To the Editor of The Stage. Dear Sir, There is no doubt that vari ous theatre organisations arc doing great work for the needy in our profession. Some time ago I was most anxious about the welfare of an old actress. She was helped financially, but she was unable to fend for herself, and therefore un able to gain admittance to any of the various 44 Homes for the Aged. My reason for this letter ...

... WHO KNOWS? To the Editor of THE STAGE. Sir, Does any reader remember a strange incident, recounted by Hugh Walpole, of a man undressing during an interval at the St. James's Theatre in the days of Sir George Alexander? Yours faithfully. BARRY DUNCAN. II, St. Martins-court, W.C.2. ...

... To the Editor of Thi- Stage. Dear Sir.-- Miss Ellen Pollock's plain- live cry, Can beggars be choosers a remarkable commentary on the pre- *M state of what *he rightly describes as our helmed profession. It it ironical, to say the leaM. that an artist of Mi Pollock 's distinction should be a beggar, while anybody with the necessary but elusive cah is free to be the ctKKwer. to use ihe West ...

... To the Editor of The Staoe. Dear Sir. Oscar Quitak'* suggestion in h letter published in ihe columns of The Stage last week, that we should i all get other jobs and not have to rely exclusively on the theatre. really j shocks mc. This is tantamount to say- I ing that there should be no professional theatre, and that we should all become amateurs, because a profession in w!mh one does not ...

... To the Editor of THE STAGE Dear Sir. Anne Kennington must count herself lucky, as a beginner, to have her play read so promptly. Per haps the most significant part of her letter in last week's issue is the fact that the two speedy and kindly returners of her play were a script-writer and a pioducer. My experience and I cannot count myself a beginner is that man agers, though often courteous ...

... BOSTON UPHELD To the Editor of THE STAGE Dear Sir, Naturally, as producer of j the Boston Repertory Company. I feel I must supply you with the true facts In 34 weeks only four amateurs have been used in our productions, one of these was callcd on twice and two others once, while the fourth has never appeared except as an off-stage laugh. ihe theatre, a fine ok! Regency build ing fully equipped ...