<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2995" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Our website is now up
and running at <A href="">www.theatremuseumguardians.org.uk</A> – please visit.
Then tell your students, your friends, your relatives, your flower arranging
group – anybody - to visit too. See below for details, but there’s even more on
the site. </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thanks<?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ian
Herbert<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Society for Theatre
Research<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=blue size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><A name=OLE_LINK7></A><A name=OLE_LINK8></A><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt"><o:p> <FONT
color=#ff0000>T</FONT></o:p></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: red">he Guardians of the
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Theatre</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Museum</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> need your
help.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Who are
they?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Well, this is what we said in today’s Press
Release:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Leading lights of the theatre world have
sent an uncompromising message to Government and museum authorities: The Theatre
Museum must not be destroyed. Sir Alan Ayckbourn, Simon Callow, Dame Judi Dench,
Sir Peter Hall, Sir David Hare, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir Eddie Kulukundis, Sir
Cameron Mackintosh, Lord Rix and Sir Donald Sinden and many others, with
the support of major representative theatre organisations, have formed the
Guardians of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Theatre</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Museum</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. Their aim is to prevent the
museum’s Covent Garden site being closed and the Collection being absorbed by
the <st1:State w:st="on">Victoria</st1:State> and <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Albert</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Museum</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">What do they want?</SPAN></FONT><FONT
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 35.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: -17.85pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><FONT
face=Symbol size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Short
Term</SPAN></B>: to ask the <st1:State w:st="on">Victoria</st1:State> and
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Albert</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Museum</st1:PlaceName> to withdraw its notice of closure on the
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Theatre</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Museum</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>’s <st1:Street
w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Russell Street</st1:address></st1:Street> site,
in order that alternative proposals for its future may be coolly
examined.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 35.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: -17.85pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><FONT
face=Symbol size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Medium
Term</SPAN></B>: To look for better ways of managing the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Theatre</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Museum</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> and supporting its
funding.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN-LEFT: 35.7pt; TEXT-INDENT: -17.85pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><FONT
face=Symbol size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1><SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></SPAN></FONT><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Long
Term</SPAN></B>: To investigate broader possibilities for properly housing what
the V&A describe as ‘the largest collections in the world for the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s
performing arts’.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on">Russell Street</st1:address></st1:Street> site is due to close to the
public on 7 January 2007, which leaves very little time to put pressure on
the V&A to rescind their decision. If it does close, the public will not
have access to its exhibits for at least two and probably five years. Further,
the huge potential of the site as a cultural focus in Olympic Year 2012 will
have been thrown away.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The <B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Guardians</SPAN></B> plan to enrol as many members of
the theatre professions and the theatregoing public as possible, as quickly as
possible. Membership is of course free – all that is needed is enough voices.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12pt"><B><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=red size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: red">The aim is to have
100,000 Guardians by Christmas<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Said a Guardians spokesperson, ‘Our
supporting organisations already account for tens of thousands of people. If we
can mobilise the theatregoing public, this target can be reached very easily.
The V & A, and their masters the DCMS, have suggested that no one cares
about the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Theatre</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Museum</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. We care about it
passionately, and we can prove that we are not alone.’ <A name=OLE_LINK4></A><A
name=OLE_LINK3>Sir Derek Jacobi added, ‘I deplore the closure of the
</A><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Russell
Street</st1:address></st1:Street> premises as an act of cultural
vandalism.’</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt"><B><FONT face="Times New Roman"
color=red size=5><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: red">Act
Now</SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT size=5><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 18pt">: </SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt">join us at </SPAN></FONT><A href=""><FONT
size=5><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt">www.theatremuseumguardians.org.uk</SPAN></FONT></A><FONT
size=5><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt"> – and tell
everyone!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The <B><I><FONT color=red><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: red; FONT-STYLE: italic">Guardians</SPAN></FONT></I></B>
are <B><FONT color=red><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: red">convened</SPAN></FONT></B> by the Save
London’s Theatres Campaign and the Society for Theatre Research. They are
<B><FONT color=red><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: red">supported</SPAN></FONT> <FONT
color=red><SPAN style="COLOR: red">by</SPAN></FONT></B> The Actors’ Centre, The
Association of British Theatre Technicians, The Association of Lighting
Designers, The Association of Personal Managers, BECTU, The British Music
Hall Society, The British Puppet and Model Theatre Guild, The Critics’
Circle, Equity, The International Association of Theatre Critics, The
International Federation for Theatre Research, The International Society of
Libraries and Museums of the Performing Arts, The Irving Society, The Mander and
Mitchenson Theatre Collection, The Musicians’ Union, The National Campaign
for the Arts, The Noel Coward Foundation, The Noel Coward Society,
The Puppet Centre Trust, St Paul’s Covent Garden (The Actors’ Church), The
Society of British Theatre Designers, The Stage Management Association, The
Standing Committee of University Drama Departments and The Theatres
Trust<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff>_________________________________________________________________<BR>"
. . . we have to accept that our tragedy lies always in our past, that we have
to live with our ancestors' folly and suffer for it, just as they, in their
turn, suffered, and as we, through our vanity and ignorance, ensure the pain and
suffering of our own children. How to correct history, that's the
thing."--Robert Fisk<BR>____________________________________<BR>"In 2005, the
world . . . pass[ed] the trillion-dollar mark in the expenditure, annually, on
arms. We're fighting for $50 billion annually for foreign aid for Africa: the
military total outstrips human need by 20 to 1. Can someone please explain to me
our contemporary balance of values?" --Stephen
Lewis.<BR>__________________________________________________<BR>Denis
Salter<BR>Professor of Theatre<BR>McGill University<BR>853 Sherbrooke St.
West<BR>Montréal, QC<BR>H3A 2T6<BR>Tel (514) 398 6592 <BR>Regular Fax (514) 398
8146<BR>Computer Fax (309) 294 0444<BR><A
href="mailto:denis.salter@mcgill.ca">denis.salter@mcgill.ca</A><BR>__________________</FONT></STRONG></DIV></BODY></HTML>