MANAGEMENT OF THEATRES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2635, 31 August 1881, Page 2

MANAGEMENT OF THEATRES.

The Prefect of Police in Paris lias issued a series of instructions to the managers of theatres in Paris prescribing the precautions which they must adopt against fire. In the first place, so that if the gas happens to go out the audience may not be left in darkness. The stage scenery is to be made of non-inflammable materials, and the apertures of the heating apparatus' are to bo five inches above the level of the floor and to be covered with perforated zinc caps. In the third place, all the side-stalls are to be removed, so as to leave a clear space of over three feet on each side of the theatre. This clause is likely to excite much discontent among the managers, for it is estimated that it will entail a loss of £8 per night when the house is full. Their contention is that if this clause is insisted on they arc entitled to some compensation, as in taking a lease of their diil’erent theatres they calculated upon being able to seat so m.tny people. The fourth clause is that all doors are to be kept teady for opening with a placard on each stating whether it opens inwards or outwards, —“ Home News.”