... 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 ...

... SIR Mr. Derek Parker's letter re mine concerning critics really helps to strengthen my argu ment. The management^ must decide whether they are going to invite a critic whose emotions etc. are going to tell us what he likes, irrespective of what the general public would like, or one who, while still well educated and cultivated, can con trol his emotions, and give a fair reportage of the play ...

... I SIR, What has your r- viewer against David Whit- field. (Reviews, March 9, issue). Presumably ATV didn't g make him top of the bill 5 because they rated him in- ferior to the rest of the 1 performers. Strangely enough, people g usually prefer the so-called hackneyed numbers to something new which, ex- H cept on rare occasions these days, is without r melodic merit or ear- appeal. David sang, ...

... IDEA FOR AFTER THE FIRST NIGHT CIR. Much has been written recently, for and against critics' first night notices. There appears to be a small minority, with whom 1 do not agree, who feel that a critic does not have enough time to realty digest what he has seen and heard, to be able to write a well-balanced review in the time available. Cer tain people have been quite spiteful in their attacks ...

... THE CIGARETTE CASE CIR, 1 feel almost certain that I I si w the cigarette case which was illustrated in last week's issue of THE STAGE. If I am right, the owner of it 20 to 25 years ago was Richard Percy Burton, well-known business and publicity manager in his day. He showed me the case, or a case very like it, when he was resident manager of the Wimbledon Theatre some time during the 'Forties ...

... 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 ...