... FAIR PLAYERS SIR,--Before our fans in this country take to their beds, the cliffs, or the barricades, please allow me to balance the somewhat apocalyptic picture painted in your front-page story: (Cut back wrecks Players' tour, May 28)--I suspect that somewhere in the machinery the silver lining was edited out of our clouds. Yes, this year's Arts Council award of £35,000 (for which, in the ...

... What they did for love SIR, Baayork Lee (director/choreog rapher) and Albin Konopka (produc tion musical supervisor) from America and Nick Ranceford-Hadley would like to express their thanks to the 1,700 people who have auditioned for the forthcoming tour of A Chorus Line. Our special thanks goes to those people whom were recalled, some many times, for their patience and hard work. We saw many ...

... 'Equity justice in the tax debate' SIR-I am responding to the article by Phillipe Carden (Backstage, March 4) on the tax position of actors. We are criticised for our delay in taking a test case against the Inland Revenue, as a result of the decision to apply PA YE on theatre work, as from April 1990. I have already explained in a previous letter to The Stage (February 18) that there has been ...

... Seeing the world through 'red-tinted spectacles' SIR Two items in your March 4 issue are worthy of comment. As a Welsh actor who prefers to work in England where I have always been treated fairly and never needed Welsh Language Society membership in order to be accept ed, I am surprised that Dedwydd Jones failed lo find a Welsh cast of like mind for his play ('Lunatic' play rocks Welsh ...

... 'Equity's discreditable role in credit card affair' SIR--I read with interest your frontpage article about Equity's row with the Bank of Scotland over the Unity Credit Card scheme (Equity banking row, The Stage, March II). I have personally been in dispute with the Bank of Scotland over this card because I received no notice of the levying of an annual fee. However, the real scandal here is ...

... Putting the record company straight Contfrom P9 SIR,--With reference to your story in Television Diary titled Something old that makes us blue (Feb 10) which complains at the lack of 'new' music talent on television. It is necessary to establish some facts surrounding your criticism of the One To One show. Firstly, the programme is made by an entirely independent company Wot Films Ltd and was ...

... 'Toughen up your act' Trials and tribulations in the run-up to this year's Equity Council election I SIR As Act for Equity is prepared to take the time and I expense of a full page of self-promotion in The Stage, it will I not, I am democratically sure, object to a casual scrutiny I of its assertions. I Act for Equity, we are told, was founded in 1976. I There was then a Labour Government, ...

... 'We're on course, are you?' SIR Whilst understanding the frus tration expressed by those interviewed by Ann FitzGerald for her Ethnic Arts in Birmingham article (June 4), the implication that training opportunities do not exist for West Midlands black and South Asian artists is quite mis leading. This summer, for example, the Birmingham National Dance Agency is running courses which directly ...

... SIR--Re: Colin A Wards' letter, November 12. I am a professional clown/childrens' entertainer age 28. I have been performing at childrens parties since 1986-- I do games, magic, juggling, play the piano, and clown routines. I have studied and trained in voice, movement, drama, improvisation, clowning, stage management at the City Lit, Wl also taken pan in a couple of pantomimes acting a lit ...

... ITC completes the picture SIR Your front page article of the February 1 1 (Equity goes to war for the self-employed), concern ing the intended test case against the Inland Revenue regarding per formers' tax status, pre sented an incomplete list of those partaking in the legal costs of this action. The action is in fact being brought under the auspices of the Theatres' National Committee, the ...

... Mersey history project SIR As part of my access to higher education course I am doing a project on the history of The Liverpool Playhouse. I would be interested to hear from anyone who worked there from 1925 onwards, either actors, backstage, or front-of house. Philip Brown 7 Orrysdale Road West Kirby Wirral Merseyside ...

... On song for the Armistice Festival SIR, As part of the Armistice Festival, which will mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the First World War through performances of works by the most outstanding creative artists who died in the War, the Songmakers' Almanac will give a Sunday evening entertainment on November 6 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. We are anxious to include works by the composer ...