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Taking Steps
''Taking Steps'' is a 1979 farce by British playwright Alan Ayckbourn. It is set on three floors of an old and reputedly haunted house, with the stage arranged so that the stairs are flat and all three floors are on a single level (hence the play on words in the title). Characters There are six characters in the play: * Elizabeth: Former dancer, retired as a result of her marriage; now in perpetual indecision about whether to leave her husband; her effort to do so sets off much of the action in the play * Roland: Elizabeth's unappreciative husband; a businessman who is a major presence in the bucket industry; alcoholic * Mark: Elizabeth's brother, attempting to save his one-sided relationship to Kitty and fulfil his dream of opening a fishing tackle shop * Kitty: Arm-twisted into engagement with Mark; having left him at the altar once, she has been persuaded to come back to him after her arrest for suspected solicitation; feels trapped into always being part of other people's dr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alan Ayckbourn
Sir Alan Ayckbourn (born 12 April 1939) is a prolific British playwright and director. He has written and produced as of 2021, more than eighty full-length plays in Scarborough and London and was, between 1972 and 2009, the artistic director of the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, where all but four of his plays have received their first performance. More than 40 have subsequently been produced in the West End, at the Royal National Theatre or by the Royal Shakespeare Company since his first hit '' Relatively Speaking'' opened at the Duke of York's Theatre in 1967. Major successes include ''Absurd Person Singular'' (1975), ''The Norman Conquests'' trilogy (1973), '' Bedroom Farce'' (1975), ''Just Between Ourselves'' (1976), '' A Chorus of Disapproval'' (1984), ''Woman in Mind'' (1985), ''A Small Family Business'' (1987), '' Man of the Moment'' (1988), ''House'' & ''Garden'' (1999) and ''Private Fears in Public Places'' (2004). His plays have won numerous awards, includi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peter Hall (director)
Sir Peter Reginald Frederick Hall CBE (22 November 1930 11 September 2017) was an English theatre, opera and film director. His obituary in ''The Times'' declared him "the most important figure in British theatre for half a century" and on his death, a Royal National Theatre statement declared that Hall's "influence on the artistic life of Britain in the 20th century was unparalleled". In 2018, the Laurence Olivier Awards, recognizing achievements in London theatre, changed the award for Best Director to the Sir Peter Hall Award for Best Director. In 1955, Hall introduced London audiences to the work of Samuel Beckett with the UK premiere of '' Waiting for Godot''. Hall founded the Royal Shakespeare Company (1960–68) and went on to build an international reputation in theatre, opera, film and television. He was director of the National Theatre (1973–88) and artistic director of Glyndebourne Festival Opera (19841990). He formed the Peter Hall Company (19982011) and became ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richmond, London
Richmond is a town in south-west London,The London Government Act 1963 (c.33) (as amended) categorises the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames as an Outer London borough. Although it is on both sides of the River Thames, the Boundary Commission for England defines it as being in South London or the South Thames sub-region, pairing it with Kingston upon Thames for the purposes of devising constituencies. However, for the purposes of the London Plan, Richmond now lies within the West London (sub region), West London region. west-southwest of Charing Cross. It is on a meander of the River Thames, with many Richmond upon Thames parks and open spaces, parks and open spaces, including Richmond Park, and many protected conservation areas, which include much of Richmond Hill, London, Richmond Hill. A specific Richmond, Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act 1902, Act of Parliament protects the scenic view of the River Thames from Richmond. Richmond was founded following Henry VII of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orange Tree Theatre
The Orange Tree Theatre is a 180-seat theatre at 1 Clarence Street, Richmond in south-west London, which was built specifically as a theatre in the round. It is housed within a disused 1867 primary school, built in Victorian Gothic style. The theatre was founded in 1971 by its previous artistic director, Sam Walters, and his actress wife Auriol Smith in a small room above the Orange Tree pub opposite the present building, which opened in 1991. Walters, the UK's longest-serving theatre director, retired from the Orange Tree Theatre in June 2014 and was succeeded as artistic director by the present incumbent, Paul Miller, previously associate director at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Tom Littler, currently artistic director at the Jermyn Street Theatre, will take over from Miller in December 2022. The Orange Tree Theatre specialises in staging new plays and rediscovering classics. It has an education and participation programme that reaches over 10,000 people every ye ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Gambon
Sir Michael John Gambon (; born 19 October 1940) is an Irish-English actor. Regarded as one of Ireland and Britain's most distinguished actors, he is known for his work on stage and screen. Gambon started his acting career with Laurence Olivier as one of the original members of the Royal National Theatre. Over his six decade long career he's received three Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and four BAFTA Awards. In 1999 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to drama. Having begun his professional career in the theatre with Olivier at the National Theatre Company at the Old Vic, Gambon appeared in many productions of works by William Shakespeare such as ''Othello'', ''Hamlet'', ''Macbeth'' and ''Coriolanus''. Gambon has been nominated for thirteen Olivier Awards winning three times for '' A Chorus of Disapproval'' (1985), ''A View from the Bridge'' (1987), and '' Man of the Moment'' (1990). In 1997 Gambon made his Broadway debut in David Hare's ''Sk ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jonathan Hogan
Jonathan Hogan (born June 13, 1951) is an American actor. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Hogan made his New York City stage debut in the off-Broadway Circle Repertory Company's highly successful production of ''The Hot l Baltimore''. He remained with the company for '' Fifth of July'' (for which he composed the incidental music), ''Balm in Gilead'' (sharing a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Acting), ''Burn This'', and ''As Is'', all of which eventually transferred to Broadway. The last garnered him Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations as Best Actor in a Play. Additional Broadway credits include ''Comedians'', '' The Caine Mutiny Court Martial'', and ''The Homecoming''. Hogan's television credits include stints on the soap operas '' The Doctors'', '' Ryan's Hope'', ''As the World Turns'', and '' One Life to Live'' and appearances on ''L.A. Law'', ''Quantum Leap'', ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'', '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', '' Law & Order: Trial ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Christopher Benjamin (actor)
Christopher Benjamin (born 27 December 1934) is an English actor with many stage and television credits since the 1960s. His television roles include three appearances in ''Doctor Who'', portraying Sir Keith Gold in ''Inferno'' (1970), Henry Gordon Jago in ''The Talons of Weng-Chiang'' (1977) and Colonel Hugh Curbishley in ''The Unicorn and the Wasp'' (2008). He also provided the voice of Rowf in the animated film ''The Plague Dogs'' (1982). Early life Benjamin was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England. Career He is well known for his roles in some of the UK's biggest cult television programmes. This included playing the same character ("Potter") in two Patrick McGoohan dramas, ''Danger Man'' and ''The Prisoner'', fuelling speculation that they are possibly linked. He played the Old Man (boss of Philip Roath) in the Thames Television comedy by Peter Tilbury, ''It Takes a Worried Man'' (1981). He was also an occasional guest star in '' The Avengers'' and ''Doctor Who'', makin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jane Summerhays
Jane Summerhays (born October 11, 1944 in Salt Lake City, Utah) is an American actress known for her work on stage, screen, and film. Her television credits include guest roles on '' One Life to Live'', '' All My Children'', ''Tales from the Darkside'', ''Working It Out'', ''The Cosby Mysteries'', ''New York News'', '' Law & Order'', ''Sex and the City'', and '' Ed''. Summerhays has also appeared in the 2001 film ''This Train'' in the role of Love and the 2005 film ''Backseat'' as the mother. Summerhays is probably best known for her stage work. She first appeared as a member of the ensemble in the national tour of '' Nash at Nine'' in 1975. She next performed in the original 1976 Laurence Olivier Award winning London production of ''A Chorus Line'' as Sheila at the Drury Lane Theatre. In 1978, Summerhays was cast as Lady Kay Wellington in the national touring production of '' Oh, Kay!'' which included performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She then rep ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Circle In The Square Theatre
The Circle in the Square Theatre is a Broadway theater at 235 West 50th Street, in the basement of Paramount Plaza, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. It is one of two Broadway theaters that use a thrust stage that extends into the audience on three sides. History Previous locations The original Circle in the Square was founded by Theodore Mann, José Quintero, Jason Wingreen, Aileen Cramer and Emily Stevens in 1951 and was located at 5 Sheridan Square (a former nightclub) in Greenwich Village. The original Circle in the Square did not have a theater license, but Mann was able to get a cabaret license; the production staff and off duty actors served as waiters if anyone insisted on ordering food or drinks. Many of the theater personnel, both acting and technical, lived on the premises. Even classical performances took place here: Pianist Grete Sultan, who later became a well-known interpreter of New Music and was John Cage's close friend, performed the ''Go ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Maloney
Michael Maloney (born 19 June 1957) is an English actor. Life and career Born in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, Maloney's first television appearance was as Peter Barkworth's teenage son in the 1979 drama series ''Telford's Change''. He made his West End debut in 1979 in ''Can you Hear me at The Back'', by Brian Clark, followed immediately by ''Taking Steps'' by Alan Ayckbourn. After playing Toby Gashe in ''The Bell'', by Iris Murdoch, Maloney joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1982 playing Ferdinand in '' The Tempest''. After the RSC, he went on to play in ''The Perfectionist'' at Hampstead, the title role of Peer Gynt for Cambridge Theatre Company, ''The London Cuckolds'' at the Lyric Hammersmith, ''Two Planks and a Passion'' by Anthony Minghella, directed by Danny Boyle at Greenwich and ''Built on Sand'' at the Royal Court. Maloney went on to appear in many films and television series, including ''What if Its Raining'', by Anthony Minghella, for Channel 4. He became a fam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Chapman (actor)
Paul Chapman (born 1939) is a British actor. He made his acting debut in 1964 in the series ''Curtain of Fear'', and is best known for his recurring roles as Captain George Brent in ''Colditz (1972 TV series), Colditz'' (1972-74) and Stephen in ''As Time Goes By (TV series), As Time Goes By''. Chapman was born in London in 1939 and is the brother of screenwriter and actor John Chapman (screenwriter), John Chapman, and a nephew of actor Edward Chapman (actor), Edward Chapman. Since graduating from RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in the early 1960s, he has had an extensive career on stage and on screen. He has a number of high-profile television series to his name, including ''The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'', ''A Bit of a Do'', '' Fairly Secret Army'', ''Pie in the Sky (TV series), Pie in the Sky'' and ''Midsomer Murders''. He starred in ''Colditz (1972 TV series), Colditz''. Chapman's other TV credits include ''Waiting for God (TV series), Waiting for God'' ("The Helicop ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dinsdale Landen
Dinsdale James Landen (4 September 1932 – 29 December 2003) was an English actor. His television appearances included starring in the shows ''Devenish'' (1977) and ''Pig in the Middle'' (1980). ''The Independent'' named him an "outstanding actor with the qualities of a true farceur." He performed in many Shakespeare plays at Stratford-upon-Avon and Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Early life Landen was born at Margate, Kent and educated at King's School, Rochester. Career Landen made his television debut in 1959 as the adult Pip in an adaptation of ''Great Expectations'' and made his film debut in 1960, with a walk-on part in ''The League of Gentlemen''. During the 1960s, he starred in the TV series ''Mickey Dunne'' and ''The Mask of Janus'', and its spinoff series '' The Spies''. In 1969, he starred as Chris Champers in the comedy series ''World in Ferment''. As a stage actor, he appeared as Richard Dazzle in the RSC's 1970 production of ''London Assurance''. He appeared in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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