... THE EMBASSY SIR, I am collecting information about lite history of the Embassy Theatre with a view to its possible use in a book. I should be deeply grateful if any of your readers could supply memories of the early days of the theatre or lend me any record*, playbills, and programmes which they have kept over the ycarv Yours fakhfnllv John Bennett central ^cnool of Speech and Dramn, limbassy ...

... BRYAN BAILEY MEMORIAL C'R. In Marx* of this year Bryan kJ Bailey, the director of the Bel grade. Coventry, was killed on the M.I. He was on his way to the Ro MJ. He was or* has way to Che RoyaJ Stratford, E., for his production of Never Had It So Good. At the same time the third ptay of Arnold Wesker's trilogy was in rehearsal at Coventry. Bryan Bailey died at the age of 38. just as he was ...

... CHILDREN'S THEATRE SIR,--As professional children's theatre representative in the British Children's Theatre Association. I wholeheartedly applaud the publicity you have given in the stage to the plight of the touring children's theatre in this country. However, H is felt by the majority of the professional children's theatres in the BCTA that CORT, whose real qualification lies in adult ...

... MISSED THE POINT! SIR,--For once, your usual admirable editorial would seem to miss the point, in regard to children's TV viewing, and view the Joint Committee's report as an attack on the artistic value of the medium, which is something quite different. You list the everyday contri butory factor* to a childs emotional growth. Home. School, Friends, Neighbours, yet fail to realise that it ...

... WANTED CIR, Any television channel that is paid for by adver tisements must seek the largest possible and also the most docile and receptive audience. Viewers stimulated to ques tion by provocative programmes are not in the right frame of mind to accept the claims of advertisers. Any public Corporation, on the other hand, is always liable to become the Voice of the Establishment, since too ...

... SECOND TIME DEAR SIR,--Are plays wanted a second time? Certainly not by authors attempting to get their plays put on. The theatre is beset by many extraneous enemies today, not the least of which are live modern forms of entertainment (just to take show jumping, professional tennis, Har lem Globe Trotters, etc.), and people are unwilling lo see a repeat of something they nave seen before nd ...

... 'TV JUST D0ESN'T ENCOURAGE US' SIR,-- I should like to relate, if I may, my experiences with television companies. They may interest your readers. As a preliminary, I should explain that I have been a journalist for most of my working life. I am also the author of several books one having just sold to an American publisher and have some modest experience of the theatre, both as an actor and as ...

... NON-EQUITY Managements could advertise for non-equity tours and productions, pay next to nothing, but offer experience. Then there would be a group of non-equity members who could unite and form their own union or association. So, instead of having one pool of unemployed, there could be two. And instead of having solidarity, the profession could be split into factions. Where are the schools or ...

... SIR,-- Mr. Ernest A. Dunn's letter demanding the abolition of the critics demonstrates admirably the unwillingness of people today to think for themselves. The critics are but ordinary theatre-goers who have rather more experience than the casual theatre-goer of what makes for popularity and a long run. They should, and usually do, have also the technical knowledge to say whether a play ...

... Sir. During the run of the four- character play, Murder Without Crime. at the Comedy. I under studied the two male leads, played by Raymond Lovell and Peter Croft. At various times, 1 played for both of them and this meant learning the entire play, as both parts were long and the other lines were cues. Can I, therefore, claim to be the only British actor to have played the two leading parts ...

... A THEATRE SAVED! SIR. In view of the Minis ter's decision not to grant pcrmsMon for the plan involving the destruction of die Golden Green Hippodrome we feei our Committee has served its purpose and can now be disbanded^ Chough its members are keeping on the alert and should it become necessary at any time die Committee wiH immediately be re -established. After payment of expense* in volved in ...

... CIR. I fully endorse most of Mr. Michael Codron's views contained in his article in the stage. A Success or a Flop? It is very unfortunate that today, in an age when so many people arc only loo willing to be led. that certain critics use the forum of the national popular Press as a chcap means of displaying their somewhat warped journalistic talents, by treating their review first4y as a ...