Centre 42 (1 results)

Both 1p, 4to, and in good condition, lightly aged and folded once. Both letters addressed to Hodes at Beit Rosenberg, Keron Heyesod Street, Herzlia-on-Sea, Israel. The subject of the letters is Centre 42, the touring arts group Wesker formed to bring culture to the masses on his release from prison, following a sentence for civil disobedience with the Committee of 100 in opposition to nuclear weapons. The group moved to the Roundhouse in London in 1964. The first letter begins: 'Emersed as I have been in the festivals, I have only just got around to answering your letter and I find in it that you ask me to send some material to a friend in Ramat Chem. I am afraid it is too late to send him material now as he has probably returned. I am sorry about this, but I hope that the enclosed material will give some indication of the scope of the festivals.' The first three festivals have been 'mounted with varying success but the project as a whole has gained a great deal of public attention, though not always sympathy. There is something inherent in the English personality that considers culture outside the commercial framework to be an enfringement of a basic democratic principle.' He concludes: 'Plenty of Israeli theatres appear to have wanted my plays none of them have yet done so. [sic] God knows why.' The second letter is on Centre 42's stylish letterhead in grey and red, and begins with reference to a meeting between the two men in Israel, and 'Megged's book', a copy of which he has received from the publisher Gollancz. 'Concerning Centre 42 I have sent all the information about us to Dov Vardi and I understand he is going to write about us'. Wesker is sending 'a set of literature' to Hodes, adding: 'However, it strikes me as very strange that anyone in Israel should be interested in this sort of movement, since as far as I understand the Histadruth spends over a million pounds on the Arts and cultural activity in Israel, and this is what we dream of happening here in England. [] We even quote Israel as an example of the situation we should like to see.'.