... SIR Your editorial of January 3 Market values ensure standard requirements is riddled with inaccuracies about me and my productions. Opinions are just that but should not be used to distort the truth. You accuse me of standardisation of product and cite productions of Les Miserables. Had you asked I could have told you that Israel, Hungary, Iceland, Poland, and Denmark all produced Les ...

... We mind our language--could you mind yours? SIR--l am quite frankly astonished that Grafton Radcliffe (Make yourselves understood, January 30) is set upon broadcasting the very approach and attitude to Wales and the Welsh people which moved the weisn Equity memoersnip ana many friends across the water (the Severn sorry) to ensure that, come hell or high water, he would no longer represent ...

... Lee appeal final total SIR The Broadcasting Press Guild Appeal on behalf of the family of the late Harvey Lee closed at the end of January with a total of £3,650. I would like to thank all readers of The Stage who contributed so gener ously to this splendid amount. Richard Last (Treasurer. BPG) Wolong Surrey ...

... Let's keep tabs on our space SIR--Back in the good old days, when touring was the norm, technicians and production managers used to keep their own files on performance venues visited throughout their careers. This information was of course, useful mainly to themselves and the companies they worked for, and since many have now left the profession or no longer tour, these records are, to all ...

... There is still a warm welcome in the hillside SIR Criticism of Scottish Theatres casting policy is, in the case of the Byre Theatre, misin formed. At no time has the Byre policy been to exclude non- Scottish actors. The policy is quite simply to employ Scottish based actors (regardless of nationality) where possible. This does not aim to exclude any actor from outside Scotland, but instead ...

... Tradition has been tampered with before SIR--I largely share the sentiments of Steve King (February 6) and Dawn Whetson (January 30) regarding 'traditional' pantomime but we must bear in mind that the influx of boxers, chat show hosts, and the like is no more than 'Gus' Harris was doing a century ago at Drury Lane when personalities from the music hall took leading roles. Perhaps his were ...

... Write out of order SIR In his Television Review of your February 6 edition Mr Pottage mas querades under the claim that your paper tries to encourage what he calls ATWs (aspiring television writers). As an agent with more than 25 years experience in developing and encouraging new television writers I can tell him and your paper that the kind of contemptuous treatment meted out to established ...

... A call for a return to traditional panto values SIR I heartily agree with Dawn Whetson of Solihull and her views regarding traditional pantomime (January 30). Some of the best pantomimes are those which have no star names and the success has been purely on the subject matter. After all, panto is for the kiddies and most of them could not care less who is in it. I strongly suspect that it is ...

... Keep to a regional direction SIR I was dismayed to read your article on the possibility of the wind ing down of the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme. There are virtually no opportunities for on the job training for directors in this country. When combined with the demise of repertory theatre in the sense of long term companies this rep resents a major problem for theatre. The Regional ...

... And now the witness for the defence SIR-- Your critic Mr Hugh Homan is entitled to his opinions on one who has been acclaimed as the world's most popular and successful playwright -- with the possible exception of William Shakespeare Agatha Christie. Two years ago we celebrated her centenary and wide, both the Oscar winning films ;ind plaudits, her plays and in partic ular her greatest ...

... In search of real Wisdom SIR I am researching a book on some of the greats of British comedy. At pre sent compiling the chapter on Norman Wisdom, with his approval and assis tance. Hoping to show the man behind the movies I would welcome any anec dotes or photographs from readers of The Stage who have had some association with him. Glyn Roberts 62 Aintree Lane Old Roan Liverpool ...

... The leisure principle SIR--Re: Councils Seek Voluntary Rule As Strict CCT Proposals Take Shape (January 30). I hope that in your front page story ILAM s views have lost something in translation to the page rather than being representative of their real view on CCT. For ILAM to suggest that, aside from the largest venues there will be little interest for commercial contractors in competing ...