SUNDAY THEATRES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19622, 18 May 1929, Page 10

SUNDAY THEATRES.

LONDON MANAGER'S DEMAND. VIEWS OF THE ACTORS. , FJ-.CH OVK OVTX coassssasMMPT.;- , LONDON, April o. There is a movement on foot to have the theatres in London opened on Sunday night. The matter is being considered by the Society of West £-nd Managers "and the Entertainments Protection Association, and as a result of their deliberations a letter has been forwarded to the London County Council demanding that theatres should eujov the same facilities as those to cinemas, music-halls, hotels, and restaurants. In the course of the letter, Mr v\ aiter Pavne. the chairman of both organisations,' points out that the London County Council really has no power to , sanction the opening of places of entertainment licensed by it, yet a practice has grown up of the council issuing something in the nature of a permit, by which, in consideration of an agreed' sum to be paid to a charity recognised by the council in respect of every Sunday performance, the council disregards the breach of the express prohibition against Sunday opening contained in the statute and the licenses thus aequiesco in the giving of entertainments on Sundays at cinemas, musie-halls, hotels, restaurants, and other places of entertainment licensed ' by the council under the various Acts. 'la conclusion, the letter suggests that action should bo initiated by the L.C.C., acting in concert with the Lord ! Chamberlain (Lord Cromer), to remedy the position. If this bo not done the organisations concerned may be com-jn-lk-d to consider drastic action. West Ei-ti Clmaias Packed. j Would actors welcome the Sunday j night playing has been asked? j Mr George G'rosamith said: | •'I think it is monstrous that 1 mu.it j keep the Strand Theatre ctoacd on ] Sunday evenings while a dozen cr to j big cinemas in the West End arc i>acked. If I could open my theatre I should make more money. That is the business point of view. As an actor, I should loathe having to perform on Sunday evenings and afternoons, for it would soon corns to Sunday matinees. j I realise that there are many actors and actresses who do not mind playing on Sundays, and it is equally monstrous that they should be debarred from doing so and making cxtrft money, exeept through the medium of private societies.:' Mr Seymour Hicks: "I should welcome Sunday theatres with open arms, and so, I imagine, would any sensible person. It would give the theatres a real chance, Sunday is the one dsy which could be a proper family day in the theatre. Most of the money spent in London -on Bunday evening entertainment is going to American film people. Why should not the English theatre have its share? Many plays that lose £.IOO on Monday nights would make a profit of £3OO on Sunday nights." Servants of the Public. Miss Sybil Thorndike: "I am. very keen on Sunday theatres so long as artists can be safeguarded against, having to work seven day? a week. Actors and actresses should be the servants of the public, and it is really a question of public demand"l think the popularity of cinemas Sunday evenings shows that there is a demand. I believe that Sunday even* ing would be a very pood time for ducing new plays. People would go te the theatre with fresh, rented ®indf, rjiid so be able t« appreciate the qualities of plays better th&n they" c»n after the day's work. 'Journey's End' and 'The Lady with a Lamp,' two of the biggest successes in the tho&tje, were first seen by Sunday night aydi- ; etices, which came fresh to them." i itiss M»rie Tempest: j -'Sunday should be the best night in the week for the theatres from a business point of view. In these difficult times we mupt do all we can to make; both ends meet, and although I like my Sunday evenings free, I would be willing to work on Sunday and resit on Monday." "If it were necessary," said Payne, "we might act as common in. formers, and prosecute in accordance with the Sunday Observance Act, tQ show up the unfair state of affairs, There are e,t least 250,000 playgoers who would willingly attend theatres on a Sunday night, Why pheuM not the public have what they wantt The 300 cinemas open in London on SuHday evenings provide entertainment for about 400,000 people. Why should v.-< 5 be debarred!'■