... Looking for the logical SIR, In reply to Andrew Neil 'Head of Acting, Welsh College of Music and Drama' What a constructive comment on Sam Kogan's letter, and typical of many acting teachers who can only criticise ignorantly without being able to offer a logical argument to the issue because they do not know what they are talk ing about. Can you, Mr Andrew Neil, offer any comments on what ...

... Miner point in the British film industry SIR, The British government's bizarre decision to import coal to Newcastle has created a strange alliance between British independent film makers and the coal miners. Like the Coal Industry, the British independent film industry is rich in natural resources, albeit the human resources of talent and creative energy. The domestic film market is already ...

... Four weeks are better than two SIR, Your article about The Birmingham Stage Company at The Old Rep Theatre accurately reported that we are trying to revive the best aspects of a traditional repertory com pany. However, we certainly haven't revived the system of a tight, hard working two-week rehearsal period. To coin George Orwell: Four weeks eood. two weeks bad. Neal Foster Actor/Manager ...

... SIR,--Milton Johns' Why there is no reason for the director approach (Stage, September 17) is courageous, relevant and timely . The fact that the quality of the atre directing on the whole is poor was shown by the enquiry into the state of directing back in 1989 and little good its recommenda tions seem to have done since. In the section Working With Actors the enquiry' stated many directors ...

... Critically speaking this was rubbish SIR, -In the summer of 1965 I sat in the Memorial Theatre, Stratford on Avon, watching one of the great Macbeths of our time: Laurence Olivier. I How stupid of me and the rest I of the packed audience that night, I who were enthralled by Olivier, I not to realise that we were being I taken in by his fakery and his tricks of technique. We actually believed ...

... It would pay them to survey the scene SIR, -Surely Vilma Holling-bery's painstaking survey of actors salaries in regional theatres (February 13)deserves serious consideration from all arts funding bodies, Actors Equity and boards of directors in all regional theatres. It analyses particularly the plight of young actors who now come under the restrictions of the PAYE tax code and find it ...

... Showcase for some constructive comment SIR,--I refer to your review of the CEAC showcase held at Lakeside Country Club on February 19. I must admit to being amazed by the comments of Julie Watterston was she really there? To comment so briefly on my act and to describe it as crude is little short of libellous. Is she a friend of Mary Whitehouse? She makes no mention of the fact that there were ...

... A little of what you fancy SIR, Herb Greer's article (Stage, March 5) raises several pertinent points about the frustrations encountered by writers attempting to get their work read by our sub sidised theatre companies. Sadly, in order to make these points, Mr Greer is misleading to the point of defamation in his description of my own response to his work. It is quite useless here to go into ...

... Tricks of the TV trade SIR Having read Pat Moore's article, Thames wizard casts new spell over variety, I felt I just had to write and agree totally with what was said. It was nice to read John Fisher's words, and to see someone in the produc tion side of the televi- sionindustry supporting variety. One thing I would like to add to this superb arti cle however is, that in my opinion, the ...

... Eldorado's ratings speak for themselves SIR While journalists and pub lic alike are maligning BBC telc- visions's new Spanish soap opera Lsldorado, it is instructive to examine the ratings. According to the industry's own Top 100 for week ending August 9, the show in fact had more viewers than Brookside, May to December, the Six O'clock News, Koseanne and the successful Neighbours. Furthermore ...

... The Mousetrap runs on the spot SIR Your Editorial (leader, August 27) reminds us of the change in atti tude between West End and regional runs. In your Production News you tell of the forthcoming tour of the comedv An Evening with Gary Lincker. At one time this did not happen, a tour of a play was either 'pre' or 'following London run.' However the excellent Dancing at Lughnasa continues at ...

... Lucky break in research into phrase SIR Regarding the recent let ters about the expression 'Break a leg,' I remember reading a magazine in the early thirties which gave what I like to think is the true origin. The phrase was supposed to have originated in the circuses during the Middle Ages, super stitions were many. If you wished ill-will or evil on anyone, you yourself would be punished by ...