... Gone but Notts forgotten SIR, G. Godfrey describes Richard Eyre and his Nottingham productions as brilliant (Letters, August 29), yet says that audience attendance proved Eyre to have been unpopular. What he is saying, therefore, is that ordinary people reject excellence and prefer j mediocrity. And what is left for those of us who prefer excellence? I have not the time or money to take ...

... Where the NYT went wrong SIR,-- So, on the strength of If You Wanna Go To Heaven, Sidney Vauncez would shudder to think what the other 236 plays in the National Youth Theatre/Texaco play writing competition were like.'' As one of the 236 unlucky losers, I shudder to think that, on this report, the play I submitted failed to even make the also rans. Perhaps If You Wanna Go To Heaven' was ...

... Yes Gowrie scheme is a success SIR, The article Gowrie Plugs Business Sponsorship in Regions (The Stage, 6 June) was inaccurate in almost every respect. Since October 1, 1984 when the scheme started, 74 awards have been made, of which 15 have been for theatre. This represents a total of nearly £3 million of new commercial sponsorship money that had never been given to the arts before. Your ...

... Miss Matheson SIR I am seeking information relative to Sir Henry lrving's last leading lady Edith Wynne Mathe son, and I should be most grateful if any of your readers would supply me with facts which have a bearing on Miss Matheson's career as an actress, and in particular on subse quent appearances she may have' made after lrving's death. I have a vague impression of her appearing on the ...

... How nice SIR, I would like to say how nice it is for those of us who have no con nections with an acting or producing career, but who take great interest in the acting world, to be able to read a paper such as yours. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the production team of the recent production of Joseph and the Amazing Technico lor Dreamcoat at the Ashcroft, Croydon for all ...

... Don't let a 'date' bite the dust!. SIR, I really shouldn't be wasting my time answering the letter which was sent to you by Peter Clifford of Ramsgate as I have already written to him personally explaining the reason for our seat prices. However to clarify any misapprehension my friends in the business may have that John Spillers is making a few bob on top to pay for his summer vacation: 1) ...

... SIR, The Committee of the Save Our Gaumont Appeal would like to thank you for all the publicity which you have given to the appeal to save the Gaumont Theatre. We would also like to thank the 90,000 people who signed the petition and die people who have sent donations. Although the committee are all voluntary workers the campaign cost approx. £1800 mostly stationery and postage. We have so far ...

... Blackpool no longer Britain's ents capital-- and EMI must take the blame SIR,-- With reference to the recent announcement of the plans to convert the Blackpool ABC Theatre into a multi-unit cinema (Stage, October 30), I feel it is time that someone spoke out in the hope that it will produce a similar public outcry to that which greeted the news of the planned closure of the Grand Theatre ...

... Act for Equity not political SIR,--Re. the article by Jeremy Jehu about Centre Forward (STAGE, November 6). As the Assistant General Secretary, Ian McGarry very correctly says, it is not proper to comment publicly on an SGM requisition which is being considered by the independent, democratically elected Appeals mittee. However, there are references to Act for Equity which, once more, need ...

... Increasing ticket prices SIR,-- A week before its demise, the Everting News carried an article on the theatre in which Ray Cooney gave four reasons for the recent increase in numbers of ticket sales. One of these was that seat prices have stayed the same over the past six months. This is hardlv the case. Until one or two months ago, the cheapest seats were selling at £2.50. With recent ...

... Isadora show SIR, I would like to heat from any one who has knowledge of a one- woman show on Isadora Duncan, or any type of dramatic pieces concerned u/irh her lifp and work Postage repaid. D. Daniels 46 Belgrade Road I London N16 ...

... Need for reform not emasculation of Arts Council SIR,-- Ah well, nearly all power to Sir Roy Shaw's elbow in his defence of the Arts Council against the bulk of the direct and implied criticism in the recent Education, Science and the Arts Committee Report. Many regional theatres would hate to see the Arts Council become an advisory eunuch. We need a strong, liberal- minded organisation with ...