... 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 ...

... ?SIR, Well, well, well, what a surprise! I see from the front page of The Stage that unpaid extras are to appear in the West End. We in the provinces have been complaining about this sort of thing for a long time, and Equity have not been too bothered about it. Now that it's on their own doorstep perhaps something will be done. Or can it? Robert Smith Clifton Bristol ...

... Advice is there for those who seek it SIR, Regarding your article, Agents told to get involved (October 29), we couldn't agree more with the comments made by Nick Thomas. The television industry has gone through great changes in recent years and while there now may be more doors to knock on, there are many more people hammering away at them and 'home grown' ideas are certainly necessary. There ...

... Why no warning of an interview? SIR, Why is one asked to attend an inter view/audition for a commercial only the day before? Surely the writers, the product managers, the production companies, the producers and direc tors all have been working on the idea some weeks in advance and could allow agents and actors a few days' notice? Or is it, as usual, taken for granted that anyone in the ...

... SIR The recent controversy that has arisen over unpaid extras appearing in The Witches has predictably brought an informed response from Equity (Letters, November 1 2). Peter Finch pitches in and informs us that the West End Casting agreement says that actors should have 30 weeks profes sional experience. What he did not inform us though, is that it is now unlawful for a West End company (or ...

... How much I miss the Hunting season SIR, After almost a year of The Hunting Of The Snark's sad demise from the Prince Edward Theatre, I still greatly miss seeing it. In my opinion, the most tragic aspect of its loss to theatregoers is the fact that, unlike the other musicals which have recently closed, no recording was released. I am, of course, aware that the original recording is widely ...

... Nothing to be said about 'amateurs' SIR,--Your front page headline Amateurs move into West End (November 5) is plain silly and misleading. According to the Shorter I Oxford, the theatrical term supernumerary (super) has been in existence since at least 1836 and means a person employed in addition to the regu lar company, who appears on the stage but does not speak. The supers in The ...

... Blinkered Eurovision SIR, Why does Which Witch producer Ole Sorli complain that critics keep referring to the Eurovision Song Contest? In the show programme two of his leading players draw our attention to their involvement and Norway's failure at that event. He probably thought it was a jokey thing to say before the show had opened and he knows how we all love a good joke. If the audiences ...

... Smaller rises for life membership SIR, With regard to a rise m Hquiry subscriptions, I would like the opportunity to make one cor rection to your front page article (October 22) and make two com ments. In Helen Gould's story it was suggested that the council had decided to increase the entrance fee for newcomers from £25 to £30. In fact, the pro posed rate would be £35. You reported that we ...

... Remember Kenneth? SIR, At present I am researching a book on the life on Kenneth Williams especially his early life in repertory. Kenneth came to Newquay in 1948 and worked at Newquay Repertory theatre, and I am seeking help with any infor mation, press cuttings, pro grammes and photographs that readers maybe able to help me with. In fact, I would be grateful to hear from anyone who has worked ...

... We searched far and wide SIR, As the producer of the BBC's current produc tion of Hanif Kureishi's The Buddha Of Suburbia, I would like to set the record straight regarding our cast ing of an Indian-based actor (Casting angers black actors, October 22). We are employing a substantial number of British actors in this production, many of them British Asians. Some of these are being given their ...