Welcome from Plymouth
Sir: In Sheridan Morley's as always interest- ing review of the theatrical year (Arts, 14/21 December) he inadvertently allowed himself the easy indulgence of doubting the warmth of the welcome that will be afford- ed to the Royal Shakespeare Company by the theatre companies of the South-West when the RSC establishes its first residency here in Plymouth next autumn.
Until comparatively recently it has not been possible to describe succinctly this lazy journalistic practice that has all too fre- quently unleashed itself upon the Royal Shakespeare Company since Adrian Noble announced the intention to take the RSC out of London for six months of the year. However, I am happy to report that one of Sheridan Morley's fellow journalists has unconsciously provided precisely the appro- priate word.
Thus, 'a Hewison' is soon to be the wide- ly accepted and understood term to describe the practice outlined above. It is not, of course, a description to be lightly bandied about, with its sinister overtones of metropolitan prejudice, lack of research and an over-eagerness to celebrate any sin- gle dissenting voice to be found among the chorus of approval of the RSC's willingness to develop its work further in Newcastle, the South-West and other non-metropoli- tan areas.
I am convinced in the light of such grave implications that 'a Hewison' is a term that will only ever be used sparingly.
I am equally sure that Sheridan Morley will not wish to find himself again stuck in the particularly murky and stagnant species of Hewison into which he no doubt unwit- tingly stumbled in his review of the year and from which I trust he has now extricat- ed himself.
The South-West theatre community looks forward eagerly and realistically to this new phase in its already excellent relationship with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Grahame Morris
Theatre Royal, Plymouth Royal Parade, Plymouth
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