... '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. 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 ...

... Don't be beastly to TV SIR,--Television is blamed for a great many things in this changing world, much of it aimed at producers who condone the play dealing with the seamier side of life. Life, we must remember, is portrayed in plays, films and books. The author must, of necessity, provide a theme and a plot when he writes his masterpiece. The ensuing story, however, must conform to cer tain ...

... SIR,--Understudying can be one of the most interesting yet most exasperating of an actor's curriculum. Weeks of rehearsals--watching the performances--carefully noting all moves and business, and, when word perfect, the some times long, frustrating period ing for that opportunity to dash on and show 'em how the part should be played! That being so. your correspon dent. Maxwell Foster, ...

... ISAT through Anthony Newley's last Saturday Night Spectacular--to the embarrassment of my family. I had heard he was an up- and-coming entertainer, and was keen to see and hear him for myself 1 waited in vain lor a clever pay-off to Newley's opening, but it didn't happen, it turned out to be the label for the whole programme, which, to quote a script reference to New- ley, was over-sexed HOW ...

... TRIPE? SIR, When one sees dismal tripe such as Sam, the Highest Jumper of Them AH and cqualtv inept stuff showing at the theatres in and around London, one won ders if the perpetual cry to up and coming playwrights, of which I m one, of 'no room! every time one tries to get a reasonably sane and chance-worthy play on the boards, is a true or fair one. Of course, had Joe Bloggs written Sam ...

... LIGHTING SIR,-- When Frederick Bentham stated that the only thing he had learned from the U.S. was what to avoid, I would say that if that was all he learned, he had learned plenty. But the fact remains that the new fresnelens spotlight recently announced by his company It somthin i; he learned from the U.S.A. And if Bcntham is to heed the plea of his fellow artists he will also design a ...

... PLAYS WANTED SIR.-- For the past eight years, the Northampton Theatre Guild one of the largest amaieur dramatic societies in the area has been pro ducing a wide range of high calibre plays. During the 1960-61 season, the group hopes to present a number of entirely new plays. For this reason, playwrights interested in having a trial production of their work before submission to profes sional ...

... YOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SIR,--As one of the authors of the play Once A Crook, I absolutely agree with Guy Taylor that the Television Playhouse offering of our play on April 8 was a load of rubbish, a hotchpotch of farce, comedy drama and melodrama all rolled into an indigestible meal. Evadne Price and Ken Atti- will were not, however, the writers of what was screened it was adapted for ...

... RESTRICTED ENTRY SIR,--Owing to a very inept speech from the council and the hysterical atmosphere of the audience, the motion regarding restricted entry was passed at the Equity annual general meeting. Please, then, may I try and show why this scheme is not only conceived but completely unwork able. Entry to the profession can now only be obtained by an apprentice ship in repertory. As at ...

... SIR,--Perhaps you can find space for the views of a front of house manager and stage director of many years' solid knowledge of touring No. 1 and No. 2 dates and the West End. Ihc wicked and shameful decline of the touring dates, mostly the No. 2 dates, lies at the feet of the owners, the cheap agents, and so- called artists. There are poorly paid managers and staff, bad seating, cold and ...