... 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 ...

... Vote for an independent frame of mind SIR--Here we are at Equity Council Election time and, once again, we are being subjected to full page adverts in The Stage with the ludicrous pretence of a united Act for Equity (AFE) list of candidates paraded before our wnnderinff eyes. United? Everyone knows how unit ed they are over South Africa when two of them are prepared to take the union to court ...

... It's time to elect a Council to represent everybody SIR--If I may, yet again, take issue with Ian McGarry (Equity General Secretary) through your columns. He states on your front page, April 9, that 'it is signally unfair to suggest (the Honorary Treasurer) can be responsible for a proposal going to referendum and the timing of a referendum. I would suggest that if, in this instance, the ...

... It pays to know all your percentages SIR--I can assure Malcolm Farquhar (Letters March 12) that Equity has given serious consideration to the results of the valuable survey of actors' salaries in Repertory Theatres, undertaken by our member Vilma Holling-bery. This survey bears out what we had been saying for a long time: that actors and stage management are poorly rewarded for their services, ...

... Singer comes up smelling of roses in panto SIR I felt so strongly about your report by Helen Gould that I just had to say a word or two in defence of singing star Rose- Marie over the problems at the Gravesend Pantomime. It sounded more like gang war fare as all but one of the cast decided to back Ken Goodwin. Whatever problems arose were originally between the two of them and should have ...

... 'Barnsley show was a winner' SIR I feel I must write to you, to pass on my feelings with regards to the totally unfair and misguided review, which appeared in your edition of January 9 of the panto I am involved in, namely Duggie Chap-man's pro duction of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp at the Civic Theatre Barnsley. I have been in about 30 panto's during my career and I would put this year's ...

... Critic rubs them up the wrong way over Aladdin SIR I was appalled to read the press report in The Stage and Television Today of the production presently appearing at the Civic Theatre, Barnsley. I was personally in the audience at the same time as the correspondent Jack Kelly and totally disagree with all that he says. The pantomime offers good value for money and it is grossly unfair of Mr ...

... SIR--We Branch Secretaries are deeply troubled by Equity's current financial plight and by the probable effect on future services to members should they reject an increase in subscriptions, as the past year has shown a sharp rise in Variety Members using Equity's Legal and Welfare services. During the past 1 3 years the cost of everything imaginable has spiralled (including artist's fees), yet ...

... SIR--As members of Clowns International, we find it quite surprising that some people in our society have been so enraged by Gerry Cottles' decision to employ a foreign clown for his Christmas show that they are considering such drastic methods as picketing the cus to demonstrate their objections. For a start, not all Clown International members are circus clowns and wouldn't be interested ...

... Fridays come pouring from the woodwork SIR Indeed it is dangerous to make any claims about the oldest, youngest, first, etc. Unfortunately for Ashley House Pantomime (iroup, there have been female Man I'Yidays around since at least November 2 3. 1H67, when Offenbach's Robinson Crusoe was first performed at the Opera-Comique, Pans. In this, Man Iriday is played by a mezzo-soprano, yet another ...

... Funny business is neglected SIR So your TV Critic was less than pleased to witness the success of Murder Most Hornd at the Comedy Awards. Why so? It was perfectly con sistent with the judges' other pro gramme selections, (Bottom etc) i.e. Alternative. In Crowd, Right On, P.C.. One Joke Concepts labonously stretched out by Comedy Store Clones mugging to camera. Good actors delivering well ...

... SIR We members o! the cast, orchestra and staff of the West lind Musical Which Witch, would like to protest through your letters column at the behaviour of a number of fellow professionals in the audience at the show's final lhursday matinee on December 17. 'llic loud laughter which puncniated the performance at the most inappropriate moments probably came from only a handful of the large ...