... Look back to Tappers' times I am looking for information on behalf of an elderly friend, Bill Craggs. Bill is a widower who was married to Peggy Farrels of Tiny Tappers or the Peggy Farrel School of Dancing. He is a war hero who was on a boat torpedoed by the Germans. Presumed drowned, he was miraculously saved. He would like to find some memorabilia related to his wife. She was on the bill at ...

... Memories of a Debonair man For four years, I have been trying to build up a memory book for my late father's grandchildren and to help keep variety alive. So far, however, I have been unable to locate any memorabilia. My father was known as Leslie Lester, the Debonair Deceiver, and appeared on stage in the late thirties and forties. If anyone has any infor mation about him, they can contact me ...

... Fill the missing first night gaps I am writing to you on behalf of the president of the German Academy for Performing Arts. We are preparing an edition of reviews by a German critic who lived in Britain from 1935 to 1948 and need the dates of four premieres: Romeo and Juliet at the New Theatre in London. John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier performed. TS Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral at the ...

... Democratic way can stop dance bullying In raising the issue of the relatively high incidence of bullying reported by dancers in the recent TUC research (April 6, News, Front page), it is useful to look at some of the factors contributing to this situation. Over the last ten years, much has been learnt about the importance of psychology and attitude in training and preparation for high level ...

... Blind ambition I am writing to register my dismay and annoyance at the current indifference parts of the television industry seem to be showing towards the funding of the Television Arts Performance Showcase. TAPS is Britain's only impartial training scheme for the television talent of the future. It is essential to the continuing vitality and quality of television broad casting in this ...

... I'm still hooked on classics In your Heydays page some weeks back, I noted a letter from a lady in South Africa, who needed scripts for her group. Having worked in South Africa and owning a large collection of plays. I wrote to her offering a num ber of them. I was amazed to find that I was the only one who had offered any kind of help. A few months back I offered a large collection of ...

... Time to acknowledge the unsung heroes Let us hope that the recent purchase of Stoll Moss Theatres by our own Andrew Lloyd Webber and the sale of Apollo Leisure to American company SFX will herald a new era in British theatre not only in what occurs on the stage but also in what happens to the often forgotten people who serve the public day in, day out, selling tickets and working the bars or ...

... Not really a laughing matter My family think it is hilarious that Grandma Treble has been exposed as the subversive left-wing extremist head of a resistance movement (January 1 3, Letters, page 9). However, a serious cause for deep concern is apparent, since Freddie Pyne Equity president consistently demonstrates his allegiance to the Representative Conference Group. To my way of thinking, ...

... I've finally triumphed at this dicey game of musical chairs Your piece on Mark Ravenhill's new venture into writing a musical prompts me to respond (March 1 6, News, Front page). When my first attempt at writing for the theatre Remember Glenn Miller (later retitled The Glenn Miller Story) floundered, it left me devastated though not suicidal. Contrary to my then comments to The Stage that I ...

... Screen legend I am hoping to compile a book based on the films of Eric Portman, I would welcome any help your readers could give to me. Does anyone have any reminiscences of working with Eric Portman on any of his films? Paul Brooks 54 Rochester Avenue Rochester Kent ME1 2DP Heydays letters can also be found on The Stage's Web site at: www.thestage.co.uk ...

... Finance their travel if you want to see actors I read with interest Jeremy Austin's article (News, September 14, Front page) concerning London based actors and audition expenses. I agree with Max Harvey that actors cannot afford to travel long distances for auditioas. At the Oldham Coliseum, if we ask a London based actor to attend an audition in Oldham we reimburse reasonable travel expenses. ...

... Tickled by guide I was tickled by some recent Theatre Week entries (Theatre Week, September 14, page 47). Puppetry of the Penis was followed by Moving Parts to be followed by The Master Builder and 7DS (Seven Deadly Sins) going on to The Ballroom of Romance and Funhouse. The mind boggles! Tudor Williams Brymore Close Prestbury Cheltenham Gloucestershire Letters should be addressed to: The ...