| Description | The file title is referring to Greville Poke and Robert Kidd, the latter resigned as joint Artistic Director in a letter of 10 Jan 1977 as addressed to Poke, then Chairman of the English Stage Company; there are various documents relating to both resignations. There is a telegram from Lois Sieff to Herbert relating to Kidd's resignation. There is a carbon copy of Herbert's letter to Bob [Robert Kidd] Jan 14 1977 reacting to his resignation. There is a copy of a letter Jan 17 1977 inviting Greville Poke to resign; a copy of a letter from Herbert to the other members of the Council of the ESC about the crisis and need for change of Chairman; a letter from Caryl Churchill Jan 19 [1977] on same subject. There are individually signed copies of the letter requesting Poke to resign, signatures include [Alan] Sainsbury, Peggy Ashcroft, Tony Richardson; there are letters from others explaining why they don't want to sign the petition for Poke to resign. There is a copy of a letter from David Hare Jan 22 [1977] reacting to the publication in the Guardian newspaper of a letter from Greville Poke; a carbon copy of Herbert's reply to Hare, Jan 28 1977 (sent from her parental home, 12 Hammersmith Terrace); a Memoranda to the Council of the ESC by Herbert dated Jan 24 1977 of her recollections of the meeting as no minutes were taken. Separate memoranda from Greville Poke and Herbert relating to the resignation of Jon Catty [accountant]. There is a letter from Herbert Jan 25 1977 in which she refers to Peggy Ashcroft, and in which she mentions resigning from the Council herself; a letter Jan 31 1977 to Poke in which she explains why she hasn't resigned. There is a personal correspondence between Herbert concerning Poke's resignation. There is a letter Jan 16 1977 from Michael Rudman relating to the role of Artistic Director of the ESC. There is a letter 4 March 1977 to Herbert from Stuart Burge which amongst other matters includes reference to John Dexter's projected production of Man and Superman. The file also contains minutes for the Management Committee, Artistic Committee and Young Peoples Theatre Committee and for the Council of the English Stage Company, together with accounts for the latter, 1976 and a discussion on the restructuring of the Royal Court Theatre; a photocopied article by Ted Whitehead 'The claims of the Court'; a photocopied letter in a newspaper on the subject of the Royal Court from Kenneth Agar; a photocopy referring to John Osborne's attack on the ESC's Council and Chairman; copies of further newscuttings relating to the crisis at the ESC. There are copies of press cuttings relating to plays staged at the Royal Court for children. |