The Stage

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Nicol Williamson

Many performances by Nicol Williamson led critics and audiences alike to view him as potentially one of the most brilliant stars of 20th century British theatre. But his wayward behaviour eventually led to a reluctance on the part of theatrical impresarios and film producers to hire him. So, in spite of some electrifying appearances on stage, the promise was never completely fulfilled.

Published on Thursday February 9 2012 at 11:52 by Richard Anthony Baker

Billie Love

Musical comedy was the forte of Billie Love, although her theatrical ambit spread far wider.

Published on Friday February 3 2012 at 14:39 by Richard Anthony Baker

David Whitaker

David Whitaker’s death at the age of 81 saw the Kingston-upon-Thames-born composer, songwriter and arranger hailed as “a genius” in France, where he was regarded as an all-rounder of considerable gifts.

Published on Friday February 3 2012 at 14:39 by Michael Quinn

Dave Lee

Entertainer and pantomime star Dave Lee died, aged 64, of pancreatic cancer on January 12.

Published on Friday February 3 2012 at 14:38 by Susan Elkin

Bridie Gallagher

For the generations of Irish singers that followed her, Bridie Gallagher was a flag carrier, a pioneer, and, to many of them, a veritable saint.

Published on Friday February 3 2012 at 14:36 by Michael Quinn

Basil Payne

Basil Payne was 48 by the time he gave up his day job as a health insurance administrator to become a full-time writer in 1971. By then he was established as a poet, with two international prizes and a burgeoning lecturing career in the United States.

Published on Friday February 3 2012 at 14:35 by Michael Quinn

Martin Isepp

For many of the greatest singers of the last century, Martin Isepp was, professionally speaking, ‘the other half’, accompanying great names such as Janet Baker, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth Soderstrom, Hughes Cuenod and Jessye Norman at the piano with both the virtuosity of a soloist and sensitivity of a therapist.

Published on Friday February 3 2012 at 14:35 by Michael Quinn

Jenny Tomasin

Cast in a minor role as the accident-prone scullery maid, Ruby Finch, in the drama Upstairs Downstairs, Jenny Tomasin often stole the scene.

Published on Wednesday February 1 2012 at 15:59 by Richard Anthony Baker

David Blewitt

David Blewitt, for many years The Stage’s chief opera critic, and a former honorary secretary of the music section of the Critics’ Circle, has died aged 76.

Published on Wednesday February 1 2012 at 15:57 by George Hall

Bob Holness

Bob Holness was best known in later life as the presenter of ITV’s long-running children’s general knowledge quiz show Blockbusters, managing his teenage contestants in more than 1,300 episodes from 1983-94 with avuncular ease.

Published on Wednesday January 25 2012 at 13:06 by Michael Quinn

Allen Saddler

A prolific playwright and author, Allen Saddler, was the West Country drama critic for The Stage during the 1980s and 1990s.

Published on Wednesday January 25 2012 at 13:04 by Richard Anthony Baker

Henny Bario

The death of Henny Bario in Paris on December 24, 2011, brought to a close a great clowning dynasty and heralded the end of an era for circus comedy.

Published on Wednesday January 25 2012 at 11:02 by Michael Quinn

Maurice Huggett

For the past ten years, Maurice Huggett, a larger than life character, owned and ran the Phoenix Artist Club in London - a basement venue underneath the Phoenix Theatre in Charing Cross Road. Usually open until 3am, it was a favourite haunt of actors, musicians and media folk.

Published on Wednesday January 25 2012 at 11:02 by Richard Anthony Baker

Don Sharp

When the fortunes of Hammer Films were somewhat shaky in the early 1960s, many people found it odd that they should recruit the director Don Sharp. Until then, he had made films only for children’s Saturday morning cinema shows. In fact, he had not even seen a horror movie. But he had a reputation for working quickly and inexpensively and his first Hammer film, The Kiss of the Vampire (1963), at the start of which a stake is shown being driven through a coffin, followed by a long, awful scream, marked the start of the studio’s revival.

Published on Wednesday January 25 2012 at 11:02 by Richard Anthony Baker

Richard Hopkins

The arrival of Strictly Come Dancing on television nearly eight years ago and its extraordinary popularity since owe much to the director, Richard Hopkins.

Published on Tuesday January 17 2012 at 18:35 by Richard Anthony Baker