... Straker show PETER Straker, who is co-star- ring with Paul Jones and Paul Nicholas in the Prospect pro duction of Pilgrim at the Edinburgh Assembly Hall, has his own Festival fringe show A Little Black Magic. It is at the Cathedral Hall Albany Street, Edinburgh, at 10.30 p.m. until September 13. ...

... 'ROMEO AND JULIET' C0VENT GARDEN KENNETH MACMILLAN'S Romeo and Juliet at Covent Garden now looks magnificent with its embellished décor and new costumes, giving an added interest to cast changes. Natalia Makarova was the Juliet on July 30 with Anthonv Dowell her Romeo, a partnership most suc cessful in the Balcony Scene, where their individual qualities of movement blended in perfect ...

... BERGEN FESTIVAL ONE of the most exciting theatrical events of this year's International Festival at Bergen was the presentation of Ibsen's The Pretenders by the Regional Theatre for More and Romsdal in Norway. This took place in Haakon's Hall, which was actually raised by the Haakon of the play. Ibsen had been cut mercilessly, very necessary if he is to be taken on a tour of school halls ...

... ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL 'SWAN LAKE LONDON FESTIVAL Ballet's second week at the Royal Festival Hall was devoted to Swan Lake, a popular choice with the general audience. The sets and some of the costumes were looking distinctly jaded, but in the resent financial climate one can hardly clamour for new designs. It might be possible, however, to reconsider some details of the production. The ...

... 'THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM' NOTTINGHAM FALLING at a time when the Royal Court is having a revival of Joe Orton's work, The Other Side of the Room is loosely based on the murdered playwright and the effect his success has on his friends. Avis Caminez and Ivor Powell have therefore struck an intriguing and bold note in exploring the relation ships of two men. The opening at Nottingham ...

... DRURY LANE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL' A WIDELY-VARIED programme, both in content and standard, marked the gala at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, on August 17, of this year's International Festival of Youth Orchestras and Performing Arts, which shares its activities between Aberdeen and London. There were artists working spendidily in indigenous style, like the Legon Drummers and Dancers of Ghana, ...

... '20 PARK STREET' 20 PARK STREET. a drama by Burke Onwin. presented at the Abbey. Arbroath, must surely find other venues as well as Arbroath, where it has done excellent business. A first class performance by 25 year old Anne Berry as the elderly Mrs Schneider brought the tears to the eyes of the audience. Mr and Mrs Schneider, an elderly couple, have come down in the world. As well as ...