... AUDITIONS SIR.--Why should actors loathe doing speeches? ii is our job ianu surely, pleasure and privilege?) to interpret the English language, speak it in telligently. and establish character. Of course an isolated speech is technically in a vacuum, but a director is not asking for a finished dramatic performance. An extract from a part previously played should possess enough theatrical flesh ...

... STAGE MANAGEMENT SIR, All stage managers will have felt a pang of recognition and fellow-feeling on reading P. M. Church's cry of anger and frustra tion. One might add that all ex- stage managers will have felt the same pang, tempered with relief that they are no longer in a posi tion to suffer in this way. Equity's Survey of Employment and Earnings for 1971 showed that 80 per cent of stage ...

... Sir,-- Frederick Jaeger's asto nishing attack on the new Equity Council was obviously written be fore the Council had even held it's first meeting. Many of the new Councillors have never offered themselves for election before and therefore no one, not even Mr Jae ger, can have any idea of what sort of Equity Councillors they 'vill make It is high time that the constant yelling of right-wing ...

... UNFINISHED BUSINESS SIR. Resolution C/T (Cinema Television) the ten year clause. As this motion was one of a num ber which regrettably were not reached before the close of the Equity AGM, and as the ninety-six signatories covered such a range of members (from rank and file to stars and directors), I trust I may be permitted a few lines to assure those members and others that this has been ...

... SECOND CLASS Sir,-- After having been a full member of my trade union. Equity, for 25 years, I suddenly find myself reduced by democratic decision to second-class membership without right to sit with my fellow members-- should I be elected-- on the Council of my union. My voice is suspect. My interest is declared to be against that of my union. I am counted among the exploiters. And that ...

... CLOSED SHOP SIR. Ever since the Industrial Relations Act the policies of the Equity Council have been attacked by many members, including Brian McDermott, over the closed shop issue. Now that there is a closed shop and the head is off the chicken, what do we get? A one-man cam paign to overturn the crucial de claration of 1934 the original closed shop on the grounds that merit must be the only ...

... Sir. This is my experience of Equity. I recently applied for mem bership and was told I could not join unless I sent my current con tract. I could not have my contract without an Equity Card. Considering that I was a member of the VAF for very many years I do not consider that they are justi fied in withholding membership when I am prepared to pay the sub scription. I was one of the many who ...

... MAINTENANCE SIR, Mea culpa! Of course Mr Bradshaw is right to challenge the accuracy of my figures. I plead guilty to underestimating the prowess of journalists in using a flippant remark as a peg for an article. The main point of my argument was that actors have the right to expect a full year's employment and that money should be available to ensure this. I deplore any tendency to spend ...

... CHILE SIR. We who have had '.he privilege of playing in Chile and of discovering at first hand the ad vanced political democracy that existed in that country, have an especial reason for being concerned about what is now happening there. We found the actors of Chile educated, socially aware and tolerant. They are true representa tives of a society which alone in South America has a long ...

... PLYMOUTH Sir, Years ago the Palace in Plymouth was one of Britain's major provincial centres for variety entertainment. How many readers performed in that still standing, splendid. Victorian theatre or have particular anecdotes, memories, photographs, etc.? If anyone has, can they contact me, at the Western Sunday Independent, 55-57 Exeter Street, Plymouth. Devon. I am in the process of ...

... COWARD SIR, As literary executor for the estate of the late Sir Noel Coward I would very much like to see any letters, postcards or cables written by him at any time in his life. These would of course be returned to their owners and would not be published in any form without the approval of their owners. Could any such material please be sent as soon as possible to Mrs. Joan Hirst, 15 Cadogan ...

... FRINGE Sir, I read with great interest your editorial Pricey. It is a great pity, to say the least, that fringe theatres are in such a financial difficulty when such huge sums are wasted on some West-End shows £15,000 on shoes, £40,000 on costumes and £20,000 on scenery which fold up after a few weeks. Ob viously there is something radically wrong. There is no doubt that fringe theatres are ...