A selection has been made from the reports received from our correspondents, those which present material of a particularly interesting kind being printed wholly or largely in their entirety. It should be emphasized that the choice of countries to be thus represented has depended on the nature of the information presented in the reports, not upon either the importance of the countries concerned or upon the character of the reports themselves.

Australia

There have been no notable professional productions of Shakespeare's plays by Australian companies since the disbanding of John Alden's company in 1953 (vol. 6), and Michael Langham's presentation of Richard III (vol. 7). This is not to disparage the work of the 'Little' Theatres in all the capital cities and the efforts of small towns such as Swan Hill, Victoria; yet it has to be understood that these are amateur productions with sometimes a professional producer and a professional radio actor in the lead, but always suffering from under-rehearsal and lack of stage equipment and of an adequate wardrobe.