25 JULY 1931, Page 38

The Malvern Festival, which will take place from August 8rd

to August 22nd, promises to be of unusual interest this year. The seven plays which Sir Barry Jackson is presenting cover, roughly,--the whole histdry of the drama.* England, froth. the early sixteenth century down to the present day, and of none of them, with the possible exception of Hick Scorner, can it be said that their interest is purely, or even mainly, academic. The organizers of the- FeStiVal are providing an opportunity of combining entertainment with . edification, which no one who is at all interested in our heritage of draniatie literature should miss. Malvern- is, in any case; a 'Very pleasant place in August.