... Apollo anniversary SIR, We are researching the history of the New Victoria Theatre, now called the Apollo Victoria Theatre, in Wilton Road, London SW1, which celebrates its Diamond Jubilee in 1990. Designed and built by E Walmsley Lewis and W E Trent, this unique building is of great architectural importance. We would be greatful for informa tion, photographs and first-hand com ments from ...

... In praise of a pastiche SIR, C. M. Darcy is victorious again! I felt I had to send a small note in praise of his pastiche of a production meeting, featured in this week's Back stage. After he poked fun at that actor in the Wardrobe Department I felt sure he must have trained in one, perhaps as a dresser, but now I'm quite sure he must have worked as a crew member on stage. I have a sneaking ...

... Get me to the theatre on time SIR, Your correspondents' reactions {The Stage, September 4) to John j Keenan's letter complaining about late I train arrivals surprise me. Any rule prohibiting an actor living not more than 50 miles away from his employment was surely scrapped along with the stagecoach In the eighties with Concorde, some stamina and Equity's blessing, daily commuting to New York ...

... Starry eyed over Karl SIR, Having just returned from my holiday on the East Coast, I feel I must write to you regarding the talent I came across while there. The general standard was very good with one exception Karl and the Heidelbergers They were brilliant and j no other word could describe them. The particular night my wife and I came across them was atrocious but everyone in the audience ...

... International festival SIR, It was most gratifying to read your review of Douglas at the Edin burgh Festival in your issue of August 28. I should, however, point out that this was an Edinburgh International Festival production mounted in con junction with Perth Theatre, using our artistic director, designer, lighting de signer, etc. As far as I am aware, the Scottish Theatre Company, had no- ...

... Brass tax SIR, Re: your front page article on September 11. The simple way out would be for performers to be taxed on the same basis as sub-contractors in the building industry. Their terms of em ployment are roughly similar and the issue of 714' certificates would regula rise rh#> rvrcirinn all rnltnH R. E. Andridge Marine Drive West Heybrook Bay Plymouth ...

... Credit where it is due SIR, The current managerial custom, so clearly discussed in your columns recently by Alec McCowen, of omitting the names of actors from their posters, has reached its apotheosis, it would seem, at The Lyric Theatre, Hammers mith. This theatre's new policy is to print NO CREDITS AT ALL. The play title and the theatre is enough for them. After some protest from the cast of ...

... Time to come clean on ticket sales SIR, The reluctance of British pro ducers to divulge anything but financial statistics such as First Six-Months pre-sold or £2,000,000 Advance Box Office never ceases to amaze me. In America Variety publishes a week ly financial breakdown of each produc tion's take and attendances. Why should we be any different? The argument is often given that this sort ...

... Too high a price? SIR, Last week I saw a magnificent production of Cabaret. I have seldom seen better dancing and playing. Unfortunately, except of course for Wayne Sleep, the cast were almost unknown to me as I decline to pay £1 .25 for a cast list and a few photographs. After all, I had paid £2.50 more for a seat on a Friday matinee, than I had for a Tuesday matinee for Starlight Express and ...

... Leadership in breach of rules SIR, The President has stated public ly that he wished to see the words non- political and non-sectarian removed from the rule book. From his article in a recent journal the General Secretary in fers that the Council supports this view and proposes to get the rules amended. In the meantime these words remain and must do until the membership has the whole consent ...

... Companies must decide on worth SIR, Michael Billington today rightly considers that the British theatre's neglect of ITI is a shaming indictment. But I do not understand why he goes on to mention that the Arts Council has a long list of hard-pressed clients as though it should just drop a performing company and take on a central ad ministrative and advisory one. Surely it is up to the ITI to ...

... The TTA is there to help SIR, Occasionally, we hear of a theatre company, possibly a newcomer that unwittingly has become involved with a supplier that a more experienced management would have avoided. In dealing with such traders it can be difficult to secure a satisfactory outcome to the problem. New theatre managements should be interested to learn (while established managements generally ...