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Twang!!
''Twang!!'' is a musical with music and lyrics written by Lionel Bart and a book by Bart and Harvey Orkin, with assistance from Burt Shevelove. The piece, a spoof of the character and legend of Robin Hood, was a disastrous box-office failure and cost Bart his personal fortune. After a preview in Manchester, ''Twang!!'' opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End on 20 December 1965 and closed on 29 January 1966 after just 43 performances, receiving scathing reviews and playing to mostly empty houses. Bart produced it with Bernard Delfont and John Bryan, and Joan Littlewood directed but quit before it opened. She was replaced by Shevelove and Bart.Roper, p. 84 ''Twang!!'' is remembered as "the most expensive flop" in West End history up to that time.Feiner, Michael"Bart's ''Twang!!'' – Most Expensive Flop in London" ''The Montreal Gazette'', 2 April 1966 In 2008, the Estate of Lionel Bart commissioned Julian Woolford to write a new book for the musical which was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Booth
James Booth (born David Noel Geeves; 19 December 1927 – 11 August 2005) was an English film, stage and television actor and screenwriter. Though considered handsome enough to play leading roles, and versatile enough to play a wide variety of character parts, Booth naturally projected a shifty, wolfish, or unpredictable quality that led inevitably to villainous roles and comedy, usually with a cockney flavour. He is best known for his role as Private Henry Hook in '' Zulu.'' ''Variety'' called him "a punchy blend of toughness, potential evil and irresistible charm."Obituary: JAMES BOOTH ; Leading actor of the 1960s who specialised in playing cheerful cockneys: irst EditionVallance, Tom. The Independent; London (UK) ondon (UK)3 Aug 2005: 38. Though many observers expected Booth to become a major star, his acting career stalled and nearly stopped. In interviews, Booth was forthcoming about the reasons for his professional difficulties. These included his appearance in the f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shaftesbury Theatre
The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden. Opened in 1911 as the New Prince's Theatre, it was the last theatre to be built in Shaftesbury Avenue. History The theatre was designed for the Melville Brothers by Bertie Crewe and opened on 26 December 1911 with a production of ''The Three Musketeers''. It was originally named the New Prince's Theatre, becoming the Prince's Theatre in 1914. The original capacity of the auditorium is unknown, but with standing room in the Stalls it is possible that over 3000 people were able to attend performances. The current capacity is between 1300 and 1400. The Prince's was the last theatre to be built in Shaftesbury Avenue, and is located on the junction between Shaftesbury Avenue and High Holborn. During the First World War, the Prince's advertised itself as ‘The Laughter House where you can forget the War.’ In September 1919, the theatre had considerable success wi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lionel Bart
Lionel Bart (1 August 1930 – 3 April 1999) was a British writer and composer of pop music and musicals. He wrote Tommy Steele's " Rock with the Caveman" and was the sole creator of the musical ''Oliver!'' (1960). With ''Oliver!'' and his work alongside theatre director Joan Littlewood at Theatre Royal, Stratford East, he played an instrumental role in the 1960s birth of the British musical theatre scene after an era when American musicals had dominated the West End. Best known for creating the book, music and lyrics for ''Oliver!'', Bart was described by Andrew Lloyd Webber as "the father of the modern British musical". In 1963 he won the Tony Award for Best Original Score for ''Oliver!'', and the 1968 film version of the musical won a total of 6 Academy Awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture. Some of his other compositions include the theme song to the James Bond film '' From Russia with Love'', and the songs " Living Doll" by Cliff Richard, "Far Away" by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Julian Woolford
Julian Woolford is a British theatre director, writer and educationalist based in the UK and working internationally. He is currently head of musical theatre at Guildford School of Acting, the conservatoire based at the University of Surrey. Previously he was artistic director at Sevenoaks Playhouse, the Global Search for New Musicals at the International Festival of Musical Theatre, and associate director of the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch. Early life and education He was educated at the University of Kent and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Sevenoaks Playhouse As artistic director of the Sevenoaks Playhouse he directed ''Vita & Virginia'', ''The Railway Children'', ''Wallflowering'', ''Kiss of the Spiderwoman'' (the play), ''Wind in the Willows'' and Jeffrey Hatcher's version of ''The Turn of the Screw''. During Woolford's tenure Sevenoaks Playhouse won an award of £100,000 from the Arts Council and the 2006 Best Of Business Award for Best Marketing Campaign. Writer ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ronnie Corbett
Ronald Balfour Corbett (4 December 1930 – 31 March 2016) was a Scottish actor, broadcaster, comedian and writer. He had a long association with Ronnie Barker in the BBC television comedy sketch show ''The Two Ronnies''. He achieved prominence in David Frost's 1960s satirical comedy programme '' The Frost Report'' (with Barker) and subsequently starred in sitcoms such as ''No – That's Me Over Here!'', '' Now Look Here'', and '' Sorry!.'' Corbett began his acting career after moving from Edinburgh to London; he had early roles in the TV series ''Crackerjack'' and ''The Saint'', and appeared in the films ''You're Only Young Twice'', '' Rockets Galore!'', ''Casino Royale'', '' Some Will, Some Won't'', and ''No Sex Please, We're British''. He first worked with Ronnie Barker in the BBC TV series '' The Frost Report'' in 1966, and the two of them were given their own show by the BBC five years later. ''The Two Ronnies'' ran as a comedy sketch show from 1971 to 1987, and bec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ken Moule
Kenneth John Moule (26 June 1925 – 27 January 1986) was an English jazz pianist, best known as a composer and arranger. Biography Moule was born in Barking, Essex, the only child of Frederick and Ethal Moule. Early childhood illness, which he barely survived, left him with a cadaverous look which went well with his ridiculous sense of humour. 1940s Moule played piano with the Johnny Dankworth Quartet, leaving to join Oscar Rabin in October 1945. He played with Remo Cavalotti (1946) for a summer season and Joe Daniels (1947) before working on the in Bobby Kevin's Band, with Ronnie Scott and Johnny Dankworth. Moule worked with several bands including; Jiver Hutchinson, Bert Ambrose, Frank Weir and Ken Mackintosh (1948–50). 1950s During the early 1950s Moule worked with Raymonde's Orchestra (1952), again with Bert Ambrose (1953) and with Frank Weir on several occasions. In 1954 Moule formed his own septet the 'Ken Moule Seven' which was a two-tenor, baritone, trump ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Barbara Windsor
Dame Barbara Windsor (born Barbara Ann Deeks; 6 August 193710 December 2020) was an English actress, known for her roles in the Carry On (franchise), ''Carry On'' films and for playing Peggy Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera, ''EastEnders''." Ten Things You Never Knew About Barbara Windsor" ''Digital Spy'' 23 May 2007 She joined the cast of ''EastEnders'' in 1994 and won the 1999 British Soap Award for Best Actress, before ultimately leaving the show in 2016 when her character was killed off. Windsor began her career on stage in 1950 at the age of 13, and made her film debut as a schoolgirl in ''The Belles of St. Trinian's'' (1954) while studying shipping management at Bow Technical College. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bob Grant (actor)
Robert St Clair Grant (14 April 19328 November 2003) was an English actor, comedian and writer, best known for playing bus conductor Jack Harper in the television sitcom ''On the Buses'', as well as its film spin-offs and stage version. Early life Grant was born in Hammersmith, West London, on 14April 1932, the son of Albert George Grant (19091985) and Florence (19092001), . He was educated at Aldenham School. Early career Grant trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, working in his spare time as a frozen food salesman and also (coincidentally, in view of his later career) as a bus driver. After doing national service in the Royal Artillery, he made his stage debut in 1952 as Sydney in ''Worm's Eye View'' at the Court Royal, Horsham. In 1954, he married Jean Hyett; the marriage would end in divorce. Grant's first London appearance was in ''The Good Soldier Schweik'' at the Duke of York's Theatre in 1956, and he spent several years at the Theatre Royal S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maxwell Shaw
Maxwell Shaw (21 February 1929 - 21 August 1985 in London, England) was an actor, known for ''The Barber of Stamford Hill'' (1962), '' Once More, with Feeling!'' (1960) and ''BBC Sunday-Night Theatre'' (1950). He is best remembered for his television work, but he also appeared in many feature films of the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s. He appeared as Mark 'Frisky' Lee in ''Gideon's Way'' (episode ''"''Big Fish, Little Fish") (1964). His Broadway credits include '' The Hostage''. He had a small role in '' Ben-Hur'' (1959). He was married to casting director Rose Tobias Shaw. Partial Filmography * 1956 ''David Copperfield'' - Uriah Heep * 1958 ''No Time to Die'' - the Sheikh * 1959 '' Ben-Hur'' - rower (uncredited) * 1960 '' Once More, with Feeling!'' - Jascha Gendel / Grisha Gendel * 1962 '' Dr. No'' - communications operator (uncredited) * 1962 ''The Barber of Stamford Hill'' - Dober * 1962 ''In Search of the Castaways'' - sailor * 1964 '' The Saint'': The Imprudent Politician ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Theatre Workshop
Theatre Workshop is a theatre group whose long-serving director was Joan Littlewood. Many actors of the 1950s and 1960s received their training and first exposure with the company, many of its productions were transferred to theatres in the West End, and some, such as ''Oh, What a Lovely War!'' and ''A Taste of Honey'', were made into films. Formation Joan Littlewood and Ewan MacColl met and married in 1934, while both were working with the Theatre of Action. They started their own collaboration developing radio plays for the BBC, taking scripts and cast from local workers. However, both MI5 and the Special Branch maintained a watch on the couple because of their support for the Communist Party of Great Britain. Littlewood was precluded from working for the BBC as a children's programme presenter and some of MacColl's work was banned from broadcast. In the late 1930s Littlewood and MacColl formed an acting troupe called the Theatre Union. This was dissolved in 1940, but in 194 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands metropolitan county, and approximately 4.3 million in the Birmingham metropolitan area, wider metropolitan area. It is the ESPON metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom, largest UK metropolitan area outside of London. Birmingham is known as the second city of the United Kingdom. Located in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands region of England, approximately from London, Birmingham is considered to be the social, cultural, financial and commercial centre of the Midlands. Distinctively, Birmingham only has small rivers flowing through it, mainly the River Tame, West Midlands, River Tame and its tributaries River Rea and River Cole, West Midlands ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oliver Messel
Oliver Hilary Sambourne Messel (13 January 1904 – 13 July 1978) was an English artist and one of the foremost stage designers of the 20th century. Early life Messel was born in London, the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel Leonard Messel and Maud, the only daughter of Linley Sambourne, the eminent illustrator and contributor to ''Punch'' magazine. He was educated at Hawtreys, a boarding preparatory school then in Kent, Westminster School and Eton — where his classmates included Harold Acton, Eric Blair, Brian Howard, and Robert Byron— and at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College. Painting, stage design After completing his studies, he became a portrait painter and commissions for theatre work soon followed, beginning with his designing the masks for a London production of Serge Diaghilev's ballet ''Zephyr et Flore'' (1925). Subsequently, he created masks, costumes, and sets – many of which have been preserved by the Theatre Museum, London – for v ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
