20 JULY 1956, Page 17

STAGE DESIGNING

Sul,—Cecil Beaton, in his letter (Spectator, June 22), agrees with your theatre critic that American stage design is superior to ours, and gives a few facts.

Surely an important reason is that American dramatists write plays demanding elaborate sets, providing the designer with more than three walls to work upon? What would the designer of Death of a Salesman do with Sailor Beware or The Reluctant Debutante? Would an Evening Standard Oscar, and more mention of decor by the critics bring us better sets, or drawing-room comedies played on two levels, with an attic and all mod. con.?—Yours faithfully,