... Regional talent Dear Sir, I am sorry that John A. Carl- sen (Television Today, July 22) should consider me less than fair to the BBC's Bristol studios. Nothing was further from my mind than to minimise the con tribution made to the national programmes by Bristol: I have the greatest admiration for the professionalism of staff and contributors in the West of England and I know that my own ...

... SIR,--in an editorial you ask, What is happening to children?. You seem somewhat surprised that they do not seem to be interested in the so-called entertainment offered to them at Christmastide, and also bewildered at the short runs of some 01 tnese snows. The answer is a simple one. Althcugh I am a totophobiac, even I am aware that children soon get bored if nothing is happening, and in a ...

... Barrie Themes CECIL P. TAYLOR is author of The Cleverness of Us, specially written for the Every man Company at Liverpool. It deals with the themes of J. M. Barrie, his life, failures and fan tasies and the search led by Peter Pan for the lost/ childhood of a modern Liverpool girl. The play is the result of an Arts Council project under which 30 young people, who appear in the play, have ...

... Sir,--It is a pity the Professional and non-political brigade in Equity do not have the courage of their convictions and let us know who they are. But obviously they have to conceal their sources of finance. MemDers in bcotiana, waies the north of England and elsewhere have plenty of com plaints about the Annual Meet ing or Special General Meetings held in London. At the last Special General ...

... Goring replies Sir,--Your correspondents, under the headings, Semantic Quibble, Factor of Confusion, Disaster, employ two old devices. First, to ask questions to which they know the answers, in the hope that no reply will be given. Mr Fortescue: Why is Marius Goring sowing the factor (sic) of confusion? Miners and actors need organisation. To avoid confusion, I sug gested in my article that ...

... EQUITY'S NEWCOUNCIL SIR,-- We only reply to Frederick Jaeger's letter (June 28) to estab lish facts. (1) His left wing spectre, in the person of Tom Kempmski and other Socialist Labour League acolytes, circulated a list of candi dates for the recent Council elec tion. harangued members of Equity in theatres, studios, canteens, dressing rooms and outside Labour Exchanges throughout the ...

... SIR, A letter in The Stage refers to the David Dimbleby programme Beginners Please. For the record I too wish to make it absolutely clear that this school does and always has charged ten per cent commis sion on all engagements. This applies to all children and students including those who are under licensing age. Every child in the country regardless of what school he or she attends, has the ...

... Westward gain Dear Sir, It is curious to find unnamed television dealers in Somerset reported as claiming big audience gains for Westward since the opening of the Stockland Hill mast (Television Today, November 5) Our experience, based on research, shows a somewhat different state of affairs. Stockland Hill suffers a dual disadvantage, as dealers are aware. It is of lower power than the ...

... Critics and try-outs SIR, AN increasing tendency is for plays to be produced in small theatres in London, these try-outs replacing the more costly pre-West End-- hopefully--tour. Actors are involved in a gamble-- a lot of hard work for very little money. That eventual commercial success depends on the app robation of the critics is an un fortunate fact we have grown to live with. A more ...

... Charles Thomas Memorial Fund To the Editor of The Stage SIR,--Following your report of the fund raising dinner at Stratford-upon-Avon, and the publication of the next Aldwych Theatre booking schedule, I have been asked by many people to supply more facts concerning the Charles Thomas Memorial Fund. Charles Thomas, a dearly loved member of our company, died in Melbourne on our recent ...

... 'Home' SIR, Many people in mental hospitals, like the characters in David Storey's new play, Home, reviewed in THE STAGE, probably have a more realistic view of life than most of those outside. Their detachment from the ordinary affairs of living is often ac companied by the awareness that nothing that one does mat ters at all at the end of one's life, except, possibly, deeds of kindness to ...

... Sir. Frank Crawshaw insists that ratepayers should pay local repertory actors at least as well as a dustman. May one ask why? A dustman works much longer hours, has a more exacting job, and is a far greater social asset to a com munity. Many actors at small theatres are still serving an apprenticeship and gaining valuable experience at the expense of the ratepayers. In the new deal that is ...