... 'Say what you mean and mean what you say' SIR--Glad to see the words some of a Lettish persuasion in the editorial (July 11). Unhappily some of our most vociferous actors and actresses berate people who don't subscribe to their particular brand of politics in spite of demanding and accepting wealth and privilege for themselves. They do it loudly from the stage, in books, and on television ...

... What price for theatre's scoup? SIR--It is ironic that in the week Temba Theatre Company announced its closure. The Royal National Theatre presented the premiere of Coup, a new play by Mustapha Matura. The first of this major black British writer's works to be pro duced by one of our major National companies. Mustapha Matura's first Temba production was in 1975 I hope that the company is still ...

... BOV's too good to be forgotten SIR--The Editor of The Stage obviously has a sense of irony that would be amusing were not the content of the two articles that appeared on the front page of the July 11 issue so tragic. I refer, of course, to the article by Helen Gould: Bristol Old Vic set to close and the neighbouring article by Brian Atwood: Labour comes out top in arts. Obviously in these ...

... 'Laugh?--I couldn't SIR If Plaza Patrol is the best television that Cannon And Ball have done (Television Reviews, Jury 18) I shudder to think how bad the other television scripts they have done must havt- been. The first episode had a plot that must have been thought up by a five- year old. And the painfully corny lines (I won't call them gags) must have come out of a very old Christmas ...

... Shock at the awards SIR- I write whilst still reeling from the shock having just watched the 1989 Laurence Olivier awards on BBC Television this evening. i uv itasuu ipsa iiij ituiiui came about when Petula Clark opened her mouth not because I thought she might sing, although she did waffle on about the beauty of Surrey's blooming bluebells, but because she was the one announcing the award for ...

... 'It's just one big happy family' SIR,--There is no animosity between the Central Entertainment Agents Council and the Entertainment Agents Association, (February 22). CEAC and EAA arc agents associa tions, each with their own range of services. When one organisation does not satisfy all the needs of an agent then they can join further organisations which will cover more of their needs. It is, ...

... I'll second that From Michael Linden: SIR Seldom have I agreed with a polemic so much as with Garry Bushell's When will we see the like again (The Stage and Television Today, October 20). The defining difference between the comic pimples of the present and the past masters is that today almost all are writer/performers. In the past each discipline had a part to play and knew its place. Some ...

... The more the merrier?! From Michael Earl: SIR Your correspondents Michelle Myers and Peter Lazell (Bothered by Bushell, Funny Business, October 20, Letters, page 1 1) soon might not need to worry about journalists jumping the queue of drama students and variety artists waiting and hoping for an Equity card. If the new Council, proceeding further along the manifesto of the Left Alliance, ...

... Thanks for a happy ending From Peter Molloy: SIR As you are aware, I have acted on behalf of The Salmon Sisters, liaising with the media throughout the recent traumatic events, following 1 5-year-old Jill's disappearance from Majorca. May I through this column, express our thanks to everyone who has helped and supported The Salmon family throughout a nightmare eight week period. The family ...

... Cutting costs SIR Re your article concerning The Torch Theatre, Milford Haven in The Stage (March 26). In the penultimate paragraph you say that The Torch must face the possibility of staff cuts. I'm afraid staff cuts started a year ago when the carpenter's shop was closed, resulting in the loss of the designer, master carpenter and assis tant carpenter. The trainee carpenter was trans ...

... Eau what a carry on! SIR,-My letter (The Stage, September 20), seems to have touched some raw nerves but, unfortunately, both of last week's respondents seem to have misread it. Nica Burns no doubt does what she can to reduce an impossibly huge number of Edinburgh Fringe produc tions to a handful that she thinks rep resentative of the best. But, irrespec tive of whether I know how the pick ing ...

... By any means necessary SIR In reply to Mr Warrict's let ter about the lack of programmes for the performance he saw in Weymouth, (August 8), he should know, as a printworker, that the cost of producing a reasonable programme is so astronomical owing to printing charges that the outlay is impossible to recoup unless you charge, as in Glynde- bourne, £8 for a programme. Paul Hansard 1 avistock ...