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Privates On Parade
''Privates on Parade: A Play with Songs in Two Acts'' is a 1977 farce by English playwright Peter Nichols (book and lyrics), with music by Denis King. The drama draws upon Nichols' own experiences in the real-life Combined Services Entertainment, the postwar successor to ENSA, Entertainments National Service Association. The play is noteworthy for, ''inter alia'', a series of musical numbers, performed by the male lead, parodying the style of such performers as Noël Coward, Marlene Dietrich and Carmen Miranda. Plot The play is set around the activities and exploits of the fictional Song and Dance Unit South East Asia (SADUSEA), a British military concert party stationed in Singapore and Malaya in the late 1940s during the Malayan Emergency. Productions It was premiered at Stratford by the Royal Shakespeare Company, before receiving its London première at the Aldwych Theatre on 17 February 1977, where it ran for 208 performances. This production won the 1977 Laure ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Leeds Playhouse is a theatre in the city centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It opened in 1990 in the Quarry Hill area of the city as the West Yorkshire Playhouse, successor to the original Leeds Playhouse, and was rebranded in June 2018 to revert to the title "Leeds Playhouse". It has two auditoria and a studio space, hosts a wide range of productions, and engages in outreach work in the local community. History The origins of Leeds Playhouse lie in the Leeds Playgoers' Society, founded in 1907 as an off-shoot of the Leeds Arts Club, to stage contemporary drama by writers such as Shaw, Ibsen and Chekhov, and hold lectures and discussions on contemporary drama. The idea of creating a Leeds Playhouse dates from 1964, when a campaign was started for a permanent home for modern and contemporary theatre in Leeds. Despite some opposition from the local council on the grounds that Leeds already had a theatre (the Grand Theatre), a public appeal was launched to raise funds ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Donmar Warehouse
The Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, not-for-profit Off-West End theatre in Covent Garden, London, England. It first opened on 18 July 1977. Sam Mendes, Michael Grandage, Josie Rourke and Michael Longhurst have all served as artistic director, a post held since March 2024 by Tim Sheader. The theatre produces new writing, contemporary reappraisals of European classics, British and American drama and small-scale musical theatre. As well as presenting at least six productions a year at its home in Covent Garden, as well transferring shows to the West End, Broadway and elsewhere. History Theatrical producer Donald Albery formed Donmar Productions around 1953, with the name derived from the first three letters of his name and the first three letters of his friend, ballerina Margot Fonteyn. In 1961, he bought the warehouse, a building that in the 1870s had been a vat room and hops warehouse for the local brewery in Covent Garden, and in the 1920s had been used as a film studio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ben Cross
Harry Bernard Cross (16 December 1947 – 18 August 2020) was an English actor. He was best known for his portrayal of the British Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in the 1981 film ''Chariots of Fire'' and for playing Billy Flynn in the original West End production of the musical ''Chicago''. Early life Harry Bernard Cross was born in London on 16 December 1947, to a working-class family. He was the son of Catherine (née O'Donovan), a cleaner, and Harry Cross, a doorman. His father died of tuberculosis when Cross was aged eight. While his father was a member of the Church of England, Cross grew up in his Irish mother's Catholic faith, in the Tulse Hill neighbourhood of London. Career Early career Cross started his career by taking manual jobs, including working as a window cleaner, waiter, and joiner. He also worked as a carpenter for the Welsh National Opera, and was the Property Master at The Alexandra theatre in Birmingham. In 1970 at the age of 22, he was accepted ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Simon Jones (actor)
Simon Jones (born 27 July 1950) is an English actor. He is best known for originating the role of Arthur Dent, protagonist of Douglas Adams' ''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy''. He also played the role of Donald Shellhammer in '' Miracle on 34th Street'' (1994), appeared in '' Brideshead Revisited'' as Lord Brideshead, and as King George V in the film ''Downton Abbey''. Early life Jones was born 27 July 1950, in Charlton Park, Wiltshire, England. When young, his family moved to Broad Town near Wootton Bassett (before it was Royal), travelling often to visit elderly aunts in Salisbury. Jones studied at King's College, Taunton, before going up to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, at age 25. Career Jones appeared in various television series, including '' Brideshead Revisited'', in which he played the Earl of Brideshead, or 'Bridey', heir to the Marquess of Marchmain, and the second series of ''Blackadder'' (1986), playing Sir Walter Raleigh in the episode "Potato". His films ha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joe Melia
Giovanni Philip William "Joe" Melia (23 January 1935, Camden, London – 20 October 2012, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire) was a British actor. Educated at the City of Leicester Boys' Grammar School and Downing College, Cambridge Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge and currently has around 950 students. Founded in 1800, it was the only college to be added to the university between 1596 and 1869, and is often described as the oldest of ..., where he read English, he first came to notice in Peter Nichols’s '' A Day in the Death of Joe Egg'' (Glasgow Citizens, 1967). Selected filmography Film Television References External linksObituary The Guardian, 7 November 2012 * 1935 births 2012 deaths Alumni of Downing College, Cambridge People educated at City of Leicester Boys' Grammar School English male film actors English male television actors Male actors from London 20th-century English male actors 21st-century Engl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tim Wylton
Tim Wylton (born Timothy Higginson; 27 February 1940) is a British actor best known for his television roles as Stanley Dawkins in '' My Hero'', and Lol Ferris in '' As Time Goes By''. Career As a stage actor he appeared in Zeffirelli's noted 1961 Old Vic production of ''Romeo and Juliet'' and was a "mainstay" of the Royal Shakespeare Company between 1963 and 1977. Wylton attended Strathallan School, Perthshire and RADA. He has been acting on British television since 1964, when he made an appearance on ''The Comedy of Errors''. Other early appearances include ''The Liver Birds'', '' The Sweeney'', ''Maybury'', '' The Dustbinmen'', ''On Giant's Shoulders'' and ''Juliet Bravo''. Wylton also had a role in the BBC's 1979 adaptation of ''Henry V'', playing the rather lovable Fluellen. During the 1980s he acted on programmes such as '' Bergerac'', '' To Serve Them All My Days'', '' Campion'', ''The Citadel'' and ''A Bit of a Do'' (as Rodney Sillitoe). In 1983, he appeared in the film ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Simon Russell Beale
Sir Simon Russell Beale (born 12 January 1961) is an English actor. He has been described by ''The Independent'' as "the greatest stage actor of his generation". He has received various accolades, including two BAFTA Awards, three Olivier Awards, and a Tony Award. For his services to drama, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019. Beale started his acting career at the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. He has received ten Laurence Olivier Award nominations, winning three awards for his performances in ''Volpone'' (1996), ''Candide'' (2000), and ''Uncle Vanya'' (2003). For his work on the Broadway stage he has received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play nomination for his performance as George in the Tom Stoppard play ''Jumpers'' in 2004. For his role as Henry Lehman in '' The Lehman Trilogy'', he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play and was nominated for an Olivier Award. Beale made his film debut in Sally Potter's period drama ''Orlando'' (199 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Noël Coward Theatre
The Noël Coward Theatre, formerly known as the Albery Theatre, is a West End theatre in St. Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster, London. It opened on 12 March 1903 as the New Theatre and was built by Sir Charles Wyndham behind Wyndham's Theatre which was completed in 1899. The building was designed by the architect W. G. R. Sprague with an exterior in the classical style and an interior in the Rococo style. In 1973, it was renamed the Albery Theatre in tribute to Sir Bronson Albery who had presided as its manager for many years. Since September 2005, the theatre has been owned by Delfont-Mackintosh Ltd. It underwent major refurbishment in 2006 and was renamed the Noël Coward Theatre when it re-opened on 1 June 2006. The building is a Grade II Listed structure. History Early years, 1903–1919 The New was the second of the three theatres in St Martin's Lane. The Trafalgar Square (now the Duke of York's) opened in 1892 and the London Coliseum in 1904. The actor-ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Laurence Olivier Award For Best Actor
The Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Play is an annual award presented by the Society of London Theatre in recognition of achievements in commercial London theatre. The awards were established as the Society of West End theatre, West End Theatre Awards in 1976 Laurence Olivier Awards, 1976, and renamed in 1984 Laurence Olivier Awards, 1984 in honour of English actor and director Laurence Olivier. This award was introduced in 1985 Laurence Olivier Awards, 1985, as Actor of the Year, then retitled to its current name for the 1993 Laurence Olivier Awards, 1993 ceremony. Prior to this award, from 1976 to 1984 (and again in 1988 Laurence Olivier Awards, 1988), there was a pair of awards given each year for this general category, one for Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a New Play, Actor of the Year in a New Play and the other for Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a Revival, Actor of the Year in a Revival. Winners and nominees ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scarlett Mackmin
Scarlett Mackmin is a British choreographer. She trained in New York City and at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance in London. Scarlett has choreographed for commercials such as Chanel's (Gabrielle) Promo and for Music Videos including Massive Attack, Young Fathers (Voodoo in my Blood). Her film and Television credits include ''Empire of Light, Allelujah, The Crown, The Wheel of Time, A Private War, A United Kingdom, The Imitation Game, Dancing on the Edge, The King's Speech'', Trust, Taboo, Cemetery Junction, ''Stage Beauty'', '' Chocolat'', ''The Last Minute'', and ''Miss Julie.'' Scarlett has also Choreographed Don Carlo at The Royal Opera House and its multiple revivals. Her work for the theatre includes The Ferryman (The Royal Court London/ West End/ Broadway), Di and Viv and Rose (Hampstead Theatre/ West End), Silver Tassie ( National Theatre), Liola ( National Theatre), Private Lives (West End/ New York/ Toronto), London Assurance (National Theatre), Welco ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Christopher Oram
Christopher Oram is a British theatre set and costume designer. Background He trained at the West Sussex College of Art and Design (latterly Northbrook College). Early assisting work for designers Anthony Ward and Ian MacNeil, included ''Assassins'' at the Donmar Warehouse, ''Oliver!'' at the London Palladium and ''An Inspector Calls'' and '' Machinal'' at the National Theatre. Career Having designed extensively on the fringe in London, he began a long term creative collaboration with the director Michael Grandage whom he met in 1995 when they first worked together on Arthur Miller's '' The Last Yankee'' in Colchester. Their subsequent professional partnership at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, includes ''As You Like It'' with Victoria Hamilton (also Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith); ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' and ''Richard III'' with Kenneth Branagh; ''Edward II'' with Joseph Fiennes; '' Suddenly Last Summer'' with Victoria Hamilton and Diana Rigg (also Albery Theatre); ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Indira Varma
Indira Anne Varma (born 27 September 1973) is a British actress and narrator. Her film debut and first major role was in '' Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love''. She is known for her television roles, such as playing Niobe in the BBC and HBO series ''Rome'' (2005–07), Suzie Costello in the BBC series '' Torchwood'' (2006), Zoe Luther in the BBC series '' Luther'' (2010), Ilsa Pucci in '' Human Target'' (2010–11), Ellaria Sand in the HBO series '' Game of Thrones'' (2014–2017), and The Bride in the DCU/ Max adult animated series '' Creature Commandos'' (2024–present). In September 2016 she began starring in the ITV/ Netflix series '' Paranoid'' as DS Nina Suresh. She has also worked extensively in the theatre, winning a Laurence Olivier Award for her performance in '' Present Laughter'' (2019) and receiving an additional nomination for her performance in '' Oedipus'' (2025). Early life Varma was raised in Bath, Somerset, the only child of an Indian father and a Swiss mother ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
