Sir, - I quote from M. Leland's article entitled "Student at Play" (March 27th) as follows "While Cork was staying away in its thousands from the Royal National Theatre production of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead at the Opera House . . ." and would like to make the following comments.
With the support of the Art Council the Opera House was delighted to host the Royal National Theatre's visit in the Republic of Ireland. More than 4,000 people attended Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead over five days. The evening performances had an average attendance of 68C people - numbers which would have had full house signs hanging at our National Theatre. Admittedly the matinees were less well attended. However it was a busy week in theatre in Cork with the ISDA festival and a production aimed at schools at the Everyman Palace.
Although Mary Leland herself raved about the performance as we know from her RTE radio review, The Irish Times failed to show any interest in the co operation between the Opera Houses in Cork and Belfast in bringing this major touring production to Ireland. Nonetheless I am sure that very soon many people will be saying "well, I first saw Simon Russell Beale, Olivier award winner, on stage at the Cork Opera House", and what a treat they had. - Yours, etc.,
Cork Opera House,
Cork.