... LION COMIQUES SIR,--A century ago the music hall stages of Britain were dominated by the Lion Comiques--George Leybourne, the original Champagne Charlie, the Great Vance, Arthur Lloyd and G. H. Macdermott were the big four. Chappells have invited me to write a book Lion Comique on the men and their songs. As I want to tell the full story, I would be grateful for any unpublished data or ...

... SIR,-- I was a member of the Equity council for the three years preceding the last Annual General Meeting. We had a great deal of discussion about means of increasing employment for actors. Alas, we were wasting our time! Only a nationalisation of the theatre without compensation to the owners is practical, to judge by the letter you printed from Messrs Malcolm Tiemey and David Hargreaves. ...

... The Wyvern SIR, I was astonished to read the letter you published from Peggy Miles, and to learn therefrom that no credit has been given to her in connection with the above. As long ago as the week The Mermaid Tneatre in London opened, she invited me to speak at one of her meetings Sally Miles came with me, though she was working almost the clock round on the preparations for the debut of her ...

... The Tommy Steele hour Dear Sir, I am delighted to know that K. P. Summers (25.5.72) is a regular reader of Television Today. The more strange, then, that he (or might it be she?) has not realised that it is a newspaper for professionals and that its reviews are intended not for the public at large, but for those who bear the responsibil ity of maintaining standards. The inevitable result is ...

... EQUITY LISTS SIR. The success of the Act for Equity campaign raises interesting questions. Of course we have had lists in Equity elections for many years; probably the most successful pre-war being what was known as The Green Room List. But it was a very gentlemanly affair and made no pretence of taking over the union. The Voluntary Chorus Committee led by Jack Hawkins, Constance ...

... Silly review Dear Sir, May I utter a gentle word of protest against the silly review of A Touch of Eastern Promise contributed by Patrick Camp bell. This seems to be an instance (they do occur in your columns) of the reviewer being so carried away with his own ideas of how it ought to have been done that he is unable to see what is actually there. Of course the play was ingenuous, artless and ...

... CRITIC QUERIES AD QUOTE-- SIR, On the back cover of your issue of January 18, 1973, you published a full-page adver tisement headed: What the papers say about Howard and Wyndham's smash hit Christ mas shows. In one extract from my review of Sinbad the Sailor at the New, Oxford, I am quoted as saying: I enjoyed every minute of it. For the record, now that the pantomime has ended its run, may ...

... CHILDREN SIR,-- In the BBC television programme Beginners, Please, which was produced by Frank Smith with commentary by David Dimbleby, it was stated that all stage schools charged commission at the rate of 25 per cent and over. We wis,! to make it clear to an concerned that the commission charged by the Italia Conti Agency is 10 per cent, except for children who are under licensing age, ...

... MOUNTVIEW IN U.S. SIR,-- Thank you for mentioning the forthcoming Mountview Theatre School's American tour recently in your Students section. I wonder if you could just add this small foot note for the benefit of those inter ested. The tour of nine productions, which will take place from August to October this year, will be played at universities, community theatre and summer stock theatres. ...

... Overdue! SIR, I heartily agree with your correspondent David Bowman a recognition in the Honours list for that beautiful and talented actress Evelyn Laye is long overdue. So how about giving her a lovely birthday present this month? Yours sincerelv. Wyn Hutchinson. 15 Hilton Road I Iilliup l\UQU, Rhyl, Flints. FOR THE BENEFIT of the newly formed branch of Sa maritans in Cornwall, Truro ...

... 'King John' at Stratford- upon- Avon SIR,--I was most interested to read Wendy Monk's disapproving review of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Theatreground production of King John. I saw this production at the Nuffield Theatre, and I consider such a hideous travesty to be an offence against all that good theatre stands for and a gross insult to the greatest dramatist the world has ever ...

... SIR. In the just published issue of Equity there appears an article by 48 supporters of the Campaign for Reaffiliation and Progress for Equity. Before the February 10 Special General Meeting this same body issued leaflets underlining some quite noble aims. I care little for the differences and haggles oc casionally (though not unhealthily) erupting between various splinter groups on the one ...