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Waters Of The Moon
''Waters of the Moon'' is a 1951 stage play by N. C. Hunter which originally ran for two years at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 1951 to 1953. It was adapted into a 1961 TV play broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. This version was directed by Christopher Muir. In 1977 it was revived at the Theatre Royal Haymarket with Ingrid Bergman as Helen Lancaster and Wendy Hiller, who had appeared in the original 1951 production, now playing the role of Mrs. Whyte. It was also televised by ITV ( H.M. Tennent for ATV) on 14 November 1956, in the '' Play of the Week'' strand and by the BBC on 27 December 1959, 24 December 1968 and 30 December 1983. Cast (original West End stage - 1951) *Edith Evans as Helen Lancaster *Sybil Thorndike as Mrs. Whyte *Wendy Hiller as Evelyn Daly *Directed by Frith Banbury Cast (BBC Radio version - 1955) * Sonia Dresdel as Helen Lancaster *Directed by Val Gielgud 1961 Australian Television Version The play was adapted for Australian TV by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Theatre Royal Haymarket
The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre on Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Foote acquired the lease in 1747, and in 1766 he gained a royal patent to play legitimate drama (meaning spoken drama, as opposed to opera, concerts or plays with music) in the summer months. The original building was a little further north in the same street. It has been at its current location since 1821, when it was redesigned by John Nash. It is a Grade I listed building, with a seating capacity of 888. The freehold of the theatre is owned by the Crown Estate. The Haymarket has been the site of a significant innovation in theatre. In 1873, it was the venue for the first scheduled matinée performance, establishing a custom soon followed in theatres everywhere. Its managers have included Benjamin Nottingham Webster, John Baldwin Buckstone, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Virginia Maskell
Virginia Elizabeth Maskell (27 February 1936 – 25 January 1968), was an English actress. Biography Virginia Maskell was born in Shepherd's Bush, London, daughter of William Eric Brands Maskell, of Little Down, Duncton, Sussex. After the outbreak of the Second World War, Maskell's family was evacuated to South Africa. After the war she returned to London and entered a convent school, where she developed an interest in acting. After attending drama school she featured in television roles, mainly playing demure young women in action series such as '' The Buccaneers'' and ''The Adventures of Robin Hood''. Her film debut was a minor role for director Roy Boulting in ''Happy Is the Bride'' (1957), and then began switching between the theatre and the screen. In director Pat Jackson's comedy ''Virgin Island'' (US: ''Our Virgin Island'', 1958), she appeared with John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier. She gained a British Lion contract and appeared in '' The Man Upstairs'' (1958) and as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joan Sims
Irene Joan Marion Sims (9 May 1930 – 27 June 2001) was an English actress, best remembered for her roles in the ''Carry On'' franchise, appearing in 24 of the films (the most for any actress). On television, she is known for playing Gran in ''Till Death Us Do Part'' (1967–1975), Madge Kettlewell in ''Sykes'' (1972–1978), Mrs Wembley, the cook with a liking for sherry, in '' On the Up'' (1990–1992), and Madge Hardcastle in '' As Time Goes By'' (1994–1998). Early life and education Sims was born on 9 May 1930, the only child of John Henry Sims (1888-1964), Station Master of Laindon railway station in Essex, and his wife Gladys Marie Sims, '' née'' Ladbrook (1896-1981). Sims's early interest in being an actress came from living at the railway station. She would often put on performances for waiting passengers. She decided that she wanted to pursue show business during her teens, and soon became a familiar face in a growing number of amateur productions locally. One o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ronald Pickup
Ronald Alfred Pickup (7 June 1940 – 24 February 2021) was an English actor. He was active in television, film, and theatre, beginning with a 1964 appearance in ''Doctor Who''. Theatre critic Michael Billington described him as "a terrific stage star and an essential member of Laurence Olivier's National Theatre company". His major screen roles included the title role in '' The Life of Verdi'' and Prince Yakimov in '' Fortunes of War'' (1987). Early life and training Pickup was born in Chester on 7 June 1940. His father, Eric, worked as a lecturer; his mother was Daisy (née Williams).Ronald Pickup FilmReference.com; accessed 2 January 2014. Pickup attended the King's School, Chester, and went on to study Engl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Virginia McKenna
Dame Virginia Anne McKenna, (born 7 June 1931) is a British stage and screen actress, author and wildlife campaigner. She is best known for the films ''A Town Like Alice'' (1956), '' Carve Her Name with Pride'' (1958), ''Born Free'' (1966), and ''Ring of Bright Water'' (1969), as well as her work with The Born Free Foundation. Early life McKenna was born in Marylebone to a theatrical family and was educated at Heron's Ghyll School, a former independent boarding school near the market town of Horsham in Sussex. She spent six years in South Africa before returning to the school at the age of fourteen, after which she attended the Central School of Speech and Drama, at that time based at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Career Aged 19, McKenna spent six months at Dundee Repertory Theatre. She worked on stage in London's West End theatre, making her debut in ''Penny for a Song''. She attracted attention on TV appearing in ''Winter's Tale'' with John Gielgud and ''Shout Aloud Salvat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Penelope Keith
Dame Penelope Anne Constance Keith, (née Hatfield; born 2 April 1940) is an English actress and presenter, active in film, radio, stage and television and primarily known for her roles in the British sitcoms '' The Good Life'' and ''To the Manor Born''. She succeeded Lord Olivier as president of the Actors' Benevolent Fund after his death in 1989, and was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to the arts and to charity. Keith joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963, and went on to win the 1976 Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for the play ''Donkeys' Years''. She became a household name in the UK playing Margo Leadbetter in the sitcom ''The Good Life'' (1975–78), winning the 1977 BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance. In 1978, she won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for ''The Norman Conquests''. She then starred as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in the sitcom ''To the Manor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Herbert Wise
Herbert Wise (31 August 1924 – 5 August 2015) was an Austrian-born film and television producer and director. He was born as Herbert Weisz in Vienna, Austria, and began his career as a director at Shrewsbury Repertory Company in 1950. He was at Hull New Theatre, Hull Rep and then as Director of Productions at Dundee Repertory Theatre, Dundee Rep (1952–55). He directed ''So what about Love'' in the West End at the Criterion Theatre in a 1970 production with Sheila Hancock in the lead. Wise began his television career in 1956 and directed adaptations of ''I, Claudius (TV series), I, Claudius'' (1976) and Alan Ayckbourn's play cycle ''The Norman Conquests'' (1977), the BBC Television Shakespeare production of ''Julius Caesar (play), Julius Caesar'' (1979), ''Tales of the Unexpected (TV series), Tales of the Unexpected'', ''The 10th Kingdom'', ''The Woman in Black (1989 film), The Woman in Black'' (1989), and episodes of ''Cadfael (TV series), Cadfael'' and ''Inspector Morse (TV ser ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cedric Messina
Cedric Messina (14 December 1920 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa — 30 April 1993 in London) was a South-African born British television producer and director who worked for the BBC and is best remembered for his involvement in television productions of classic drama. Early life and career Born to Sicilian and Welsh immigrant parents, Messina attended school in Johannesburg and joined the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in the 1930s.Oliver Wak"Cedric Messina" British Television Drama, 24 June 2012 He first worked for the BBC as a radio announcer and drama producer for a time in 1947, later permanently moving to the UK and joining BBC Radio in the later role during 1958. Joining BBC Television in 1962, he was responsible for ''Dr Finlay's Casebook'' as producer and director for a time before being given responsibility for ''Theatre 625'' on the new BBC 2. Becoming the producer of ''Play of the Month'' in 1966 he supervised more than 80 productions until 1977, and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roland Culver
Roland Joseph Culver, (31 August 1900 – 1 March 1984) was an English stage, film, and television actor. Life and career After Highgate School, he joined the Royal Air Force and served as a pilot from 1918 to 1919. After considering other careers, he turned to acting, graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He debuted on the stage in 1924 at Hull Repertory Theatre and, by 1931, was appearing in films in which he was known for his portrayals of impeccable English gentlemen not given to displays of emotion. In the 1960s he branched out into television before finally retiring in 1983. In 1960 he appeared in ''Five Finger Exercise'' at the Music Box Theatre in New York City. He was nominated for the 1966 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for ''Ivanov (play), Ivanov''. In 1974 he played the irascible Duke of Omnium and Gatherum in the popular BBC adaptation of, The Pallisers. He lost half a lung to tuberculosis. Personal life He was marrie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Gwynn
Michael Gwynn (30 November 1916 – 29 January 1976) was an English actor. He attended Mayfield College near Mayfield, Sussex. During the Second World War he served in East Africa as a major and was adjutant to the 2nd (Nyasaland) Battalion of the King's African Rifles. Life and career 6ft 3inch tall Gwynn is perhaps best remembered for his role in the first episode of the BBC comedy ''Fawlty Towers'' " A Touch of Class" (1975) as the conman "Lord" Melbury who eventually humiliates Basil Fawlty. For Hammer Films, he performed in several productions including the war film ''The Camp on Blood Island'' (1958), and ''Never Take Sweets from a Stranger'' (1960), a rare drama film for the studio; the actor also appeared in one of their very best horror movies, ''The Revenge of Frankenstein'' (1958), in which he played a tragic experimental subject who turns into a cannibalistic killer, and the less well-regarded ''Scars of Dracula'' (1970) in the role of a priest determined to batt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kathleen Harrison
Kathleen Harrison (23 February 1892 – 7 December 1995) was a prolific English character actress best remembered for her role as Mrs. Huggett (opposite Jack Warner and Petula Clark) in a trio of British post-war comedies about a working-class family's misadventures, The Huggetts. She later played the charwoman Mrs. Dilber opposite Alastair Sim in the 1951 film '' Scrooge'' (US: ''A Christmas Carol'', 1951) and a Cockney charwoman who inherits a fortune in the television series ''Mrs Thursday'' (1966–67). Life and career Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, Harrison was brought up in London, her father having become borough engineer for Southwark. She was educated at Clapham High School before training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (1914–15). She spent some years living in Argentina and Madeira before making her professional acting debut in the UK in the 1920s. Harrison made her stage debut as Mrs. Judd in ''The Constant Flirt'' at the Pier Theatre, Eastbourne in 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Athene Seyler
Athene Seyler, CBE (31 May 188912 September 1990) was an English actress. Early life She was born in Hackney, London; her German-born grandparents moved to the United Kingdom, where her grandfather Philip Seyler was a merchant in London. Athene Seyler was educated at Coombe Hill School in Surrey, a progressive co-educational school which disliked petitionary prayer and whose advanced biology classes studied Darwin's ''On the Origin of Species''. Seyler took part in an anti-blood sports demonstration, during which pupils captured the fox from the local hunt.MacKillop, I. D. (1986) ''The British Ethical Societies'', Cambridge University Press, nlineAvailable from: https://books.google.com/books?id=mqgsFS_MN9UC&pgis=1 (Accessed 13 May 2014). She was also active in the South Place Ethical Society during the 1920s, where her father Clarence H. Seyler took his family for many years to hear Moncure Conway lecture as an alternative to attending a religious Sunday service. Clarence r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
