... 'Don't cast doubt on this basic need' SIR--Amongst the AGM reports in The Stage, April 16, you said that I proposed Equity set up its own self-financing casting service. In fact I did nothing of the sort. Equity cannot and must not involve itself in the process of casting. What I proposed was a union financed casting information service as practised in America. When I was a deputy with the ...

... A fitting award for those Aussie 'good' Neighbours S1K What a splendid idea of INick Scon, to have a Crap Awards ^M Presentation Ceremony, for 'iffy' television programmes. Without hesitation my nomination is for Neighbours it has ^H everything. Every young actor, budding writer, and aspiring producer, should be made to watch this amalgam of horror, just ^^1 to see how not to act, write or ...

... Showing signs of concern SIR,--It was with some amusement that I read James Murray's letter (February 15) regarding the proposed production of Bernadette al The Dominion Theatre, London, and comments attributed to your contributor Tabard in a recent issue of The Stage. 1 never cease to oe amazed at tne reaction of anyone concerned with a production of a show that would appear to be something ...

... Time for action SIR, I enjoyed Ian Flirtoffs excel lent article in the Stage May 31 But he is a little bit out of touch with regard to his view of the Equity council. I was elected to the council four years ago and in that time have learnt a great deal. Inclined to think along the same lines as Mr Flintoff, I have been greatly surprised and impressed by the sheer dedication and hard work of ...

... SIR-I was interested to read Act for Equity's back page Equity Council Election advertisement, (June 9) which shows a much reduced list of candidates. What does this tell us? Then I noticed all the successes for which they claim the credit. Don't be bamboozled by this. All important matters arc first of all dis cussed at committee level, and spe cialist advisory committees are made up of ...

... SIR Mr J Ollivant suggests that by not wearing his army service medals on the Sunday Morning With Secombe programme covering the D-Day anniversary, that my father, Sir Harry Secombe, was letting down every ex-serviceman, (Too big to remember? Letters, page 9). My father has an impressive row of medals from his army service the '39- '45 Star, the Africa Star with 1 st Army clasp, the Italy ...

... VAT's quite a problem SIR I am fascinated by The Secret Agent and his views on VAT. (To reg ister or not to register, page 7, July 29). The article correctly highlights the problem of small businesses when they are dealing with customers who are not VAT registered. I deal with a number of people who strive very hard not to go above the limit for compul sory registration in order to stay in ...

... SIR In response to Mr Breckmans letter (1'ht State, December 1 7) I wish to present perhaps a glimmer of hope. In 1992, Centre Stage with Edwardian Hotels sponsored the new musical Oscar by James Clutton and Damian Landi and the restoration of The Tom Thumb Theatre in Cliftonville. Both projects will continue into 1993 as well as our association with the wonderful West End. We particularly ...

... SIR I have just finished reading The Britannia Diaries of Frederick Wilton edited by Jim Davis, and published by the Society for Theatre Research. Frederick Wilton was stage manager of the Britannia Music Hall in Hoxton from 1846 until 1875. I thought the following extract might be of interest to your readers: 'Monday, January 5, 1863 Pantomime Abu Hassan introducing Tom Sayers. (Tom Sayers, ...

... 'Don't forget the new faces' SIR -- I heartily agree with Stan Boardman (February 1 3). Live entertainment is waiting for the undertaker to move in, and the sad demise of television variety shows and the loss of Opportunity Knocks and New Faces is one of the mam reasons for the disappearance of the good old days of the big cabaret clubs. Although George Sawa and some of his col leagues have ...

... SIR Recently watching an old British film on Saturday afternoon television., I was yet again amazed, and appalled, to see the amount of smoking packed into 90 minutes. Admittedly, these films were made in pre-health-hazard days (in what my daughters, when younger, used to call the black-and-white world), but it's extraordinary how often a director directed and/or an actor chose, to light up ...

... SIR Without wishing to appear sycophantic I do think that Robert Breckman's article on arts administration (Leader Page, August 5), encapsulates all the problems. The buck certainly stops more with them than an artistic director. S Morgan Sussex Way Cockfosters Herts ...