... Resurrecting King's Theatre What a pity that recent articles about the beautiful and listed King's Theatre in Southsea (May 1 8, News, page 4) suggest an acri monious feeling between local enthusiasts trying to bring it back to full-time use. All our supporters, amateur and professional, have the same objectives which are to bring this once outstanding theatre back as a venue that professional ...

... Help me pair up these pals My fiance Colin Stocks lost touch with his close friend Martin Mellett and should very much like to find him again. Martin was involved in the theatre, and wrote The Warrior Queen, which became a TV series starring Sian Phillips. He also wrote a book. Return to Witch Mountain, apparently written from the film screenplay. I have tried unsuccessfully to trace Martin ...

... Remembering the Harlequin If you were connected with Harlequin Ballet, in any capacity, (or know anyone that was) and have not already been contacted about a reunion to be held in late August 2001 in London, please get in touch with either of the following names below for more details. Patsy Urquhart (Beech) Tel 0044 1206 211162 or Hazel Moore e-mail: ha2elm00re@tiscalinet.it Heydays letters ...

... VAT battle already lost Your last issue devoted considerable coverage to various efforts to eliminate VAT on theatre tickets. The headline article (News, June 29, Front Page) noted appeals to the UK arts minister Alan Howarth. the ILAM's 'crusade to abolish' the tax and the RSC's appeals for VAT differentiation. The theme was continued in your editorial and letters pages. All of these ...

... On-line heckling is way out of line As if comedians' jobs aren't tough enough, I note that Jongleurs has decided to instigate 'on-line heckling' (News, June 22, page 5), where anonymous nerds will be able to send e-mails into the programme to be displayed onstage, behind the poor trembling victim, in a pathetic display, obviously influenced by the movie Gladiator. What next? Why not have ...

... Clear mystery up I should be extremely grateful to hear from anyone who has memories of the hooker and agent Stanlev 'Scruffy' Dale. Graham McCann PO Box 336 Cambridge CB1 2YA ...

... Compose some answers please I am researching the life of composer Amy Woodforde- Finden, who wrote towards the end of the 19th and begin ning of the 20th centuries. She wrote the music to the Kashmiri Song, also known as the Pale Hand I Loved. I should be delighted to hear from anyone who has any information about her, or Lawrence Hope, the novelist and poet who wrote the words to the above. ...

... Campaign for licensing equality to keep live music on track There is always the danger that well-intentioned legislation will make matters worse, because the people drawing up the new law don't really understand what its effects will be at grass-roots level. The proposed reform of the licensing laws does carry a potential threat to the working lives of musicians and other performers, and you ...

... Syd Marx tape discovered I was sad to read in the obituaries page of the death of Syd Marx, that superb comedian. My father, Eddie Featherstone, ran the Portsea Island Co-operative Employees Club for many years. He passed away himself on March 3 and, going through his effects, we have found an audio cassette of one of their old time musical nights and there, bold as brass, is Syd. If any ...

... West Cliff should stay, not Princes This letter refers to the proposed closure of either the Princes or West Cliff Theatres in Clacton. I have been a patron of both theatres all my 24 years and I feel that if either of them has to close it should be the Princes. The West Cliff theatre is a purpose built venue with a large network of supporters and it has the right atmos phere along with better ...

... Scottish casting directory was agreed by council As chair of the Scottish National Committee, I was astonished to read your article on the Scotland Casting Directory (News, December 7, Front page) as the decision to create this particular directory came via a democratic process with the full endorsement of Equity's council. Therefore I deplore any comments which undermine the launch of this ...

... Right conditions to make motions Thank you for giving front page prominence to the Theatres Trust annual report (News, December 14, Front page), for which it is to be congratulated. As well as highlighting the unsuitability of many theatres to today's needs, it also points out the appalling conditions backstage that many performers have to tolerate, which, it says, no other profession would ...