... SIXPENCE SIR, -Your corresponded.*. John Benson and Katharine SniaO, t)uitc rightly point out thai local authorities need (o be pushed into spending their sixpenny rate. The Fortieth Society, which b sponsored by Encore, was formed last year in order to do iust that. We believe that the example of that gallant handful of councils who run their own theatres on that sixpenny rate can most ...

... CONTINENTALS SIR. The Continental type of theatre is thought my many to be the answer to the closing of musk hath which are finding it difficuh to keep open when present ing ordinary variety bills. Time alone will tell, but my experiences at Huddersfield Conti nental over the Christmas and New Year period provided an excellent example of how artists and man agement can pull together to build ...

... 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 ...

... This is a shame Sir,-- I was interested to read in a recent issue of Tele vision Today that a French modern ballet group appeared on Chelsea at Nine. While I am eager to con gratulate Granada TV on their excellent programme it seems a great shame that the plan ners of these programmes do not give enough opportunities for the public to see the best British talent Why do we see so little of ...

... CAN ANY PAPER BEAT IT? ir I HAVE been reading my weekly copy of The Stage now ?I for over two years with unflagging interest and enjoy ment I think there can be no other paper or magazine which gives so detailed and accurate an account of the many separate facets of the Theatrical profession. Now that Television Today has become an integral part of the paper I look forward to Thursdav with ...

... Sir, After years of sacrifice in sending our daughter to a leading drama school she now ends up as an usherette in a London cinema. She was considered a very good actress. It seems to me that to get any where on the stage one has to be cither connected with a relative, or a friend of a friend. Is there no hope for these young people who seem to get no opportunity? Yours faithfully. R. Tompsett ...

... AN APPEAL Sir, I would be most graiclul if members of the profession, produc tion managers and wardrobe de partments of various pantomimes and other productions would send to me at Hilbre, Abergele Road, Rhuddlan. Rhyl, Flintshire, any pairs of long white and pink stock ings, opera hose and tights, when they have become too shabby for further wear, as I could use them for making up into dolls ...

... ORSON WELLES Sir, I auditioned for Mr. Orson WeWe at the Wyndham's Theatre on January 5, and was unsuccessful. However. I should like to say that never before have I, an un known, been treated with such respect and sincerity. It is obvious that Mr Welles's greatness does not only lie in acting. Yours sincorHv. Actor. London, W. P.S.--Please do not disclose my name or address]. ...

... 'AUNT EDWINA' CIR-- Why does your dramatic critic regard a note m a theatre programme expressing the manage ment's gratitude to those who have lent clothin* or worked overtime as being amateur Professionalism, in my experience, does not necessarily imply an addic tion to bad manners. Yours, William Douglas Home Drayton House, East Meon. Hampshire. \Note: It items to our dramatic critic that a ...

... CRITICS SIR,-- As an ardent, theatre-lover proud of the great history of our theatre and of all those who have made it so, I applaud your excellent Leader on the critic's funotion in the theatre Not a moment too soon, I feel It is shameful that these many sincere and dedicated people should have so constantly to tolerate the unscrupulous axe of a mere exhibitionist. Vnnrc fdlkhFlltlv Pamela ...

... SHIP OF STATE SIR. In his excellent survey Mr. Raymond Marriott counts One More River as the best new play of 1959. This despite a somewhat unsatisfactory ending Surely in this play the whole meaning is in its ending? The dirty lower classes, despite their lifelong experience of chipping old paint off the ship of state, botch up their term of authority, and in crisis call, to steer them, on a ...

... EAGER WE would like to thank Mrs. F. Betts Televis ion Today, January 7 1960) for her kind remarks about the Western Theatre Ballet Com pany. We ourselves are eager for this Company to be seen in England as much as possible and have been in touch with Granada about their Chelsea Ai Nine programme. Unfortunately, at this stage, we have not been able to plan the Western Theatre Ballet pro gramme ...