Poems Strike a chord

Whoever programmed this sombre event can scarcely have imagined its grim resonance on the third Sunday of the war in Iraq. Four actors read 38 poems which variously described both the futility and the necessity of war down the ages. A grainy image of the Battle of the Somme hung over the stage as Dame Judi Dench, Harriet Walter, dave Fishley and Gregory Cox recited verses by Winifred Owen, Edward thomas, Siegfried Sassoon, WB Yeats and others. The song 'Seven Meadows' by Gloucestershire's Ivor Gurney, was sensitively accompanied by pianist Alec Forshaw. These were stories of two world wars which had the hollow ring of dismay, death, sacrifice and hope.

In the second half, poems arising from conflict in all corners of the globe were read. A solitary candle, wrapped in barbed wire like the symbol of Amnesty International and a huge photograph of Hiroshima, aded poignancy tothe actors' reverent and deeply moving recitals. There were poems from Russia, Sarajevo, Czechoslovakia, Vietnam and even Australia.

If anyone was in any doubt about the contemporary relevance of this poetry, Ariel Dorfman's 'Pablo Picasso Has Words For Colin Powell' from 'The Other Side of Death', written two months ago, was confirmation. Nick Henderson

Review for Valerie's production of 'Soldier's Tale' by Stravinsky

This review of Valerie's work at the Royal National Theatre was from 'Time Out' magazine

'Uncle Vanya' - this is the only available review of Valerie Doulton's extensive Drama School work

Letters of Appreciation:

American professor - Jerneral W. Cranston

Ruth Clysedale