16 MAY 1969, Page 31

Poison ivy

Sir: It was a pleasure to read Lord Chandos's masterly evisceration of that pretentious and pompous piece Soldiers (9 May).

Is it, however, unreasonable, to ask why and bow it is possible for Mr Tynan--who has so vigorously and ostentatiously sponsored the play—to remain the literary adviser, or as he was once termed the dramaturge, of our National Theatre?

Val Gielgud Wychwood, Barcombe, Lewes, Sussex