The Stage

John Chilvers

Published Monday 31 March 2008 at 10:55 by Vivyan Ellacott

John Chilvers, who died on March 10 after a short illness, was one of the great names of the repertory movement through the fifties to the eighties.

Although born in Norwich in 1920, he became a theatre legend in South Wales where he spent 25 years as manager and artistic director of the Swansea Grand Theatre. Without any doubt, his personal efforts, enthusiasm and determination saved the Grand from what seemed like inevitable closure and demolition.

His early theatre ambitions were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, during which he served in the RAF. As a sergeant, he was posted to India, where he managed to stage some service revues. After the war he got his first job with a rep company at Amersham and over the next years played rep seasons at High Wycombe, Halifax, Westcliff, Ashton-under Lyme, Blackpool and Colwyn Bay.

He was also appearing on the touring circuit, playing in revues like Peaches and Screams and plays like Reefer Girl and Call Girl. In Holy Week 1956 Call Girl was playing Swansea Empire - where the Watch Committee refused permission for such a saucy show to play on Good Friday. The rival Grand Theatre was allowed to perform the much more suitable Widow’s Mite, so a small party, led by John, went from the Empire to see the opposition.

It was there, by chance, John met the owner of the Swansea Grand - a meeting which led to John being asked to direct a six week rep season starting in February 1957.

Those six weeks were to stretch into 25 years, during which time he directed 504 plays, 20 pantomimes, eight summer seasons with top variety names and a series of gang shows for the scout movement.

In 1968, the Swansea Grand was threatened with closure. John led the campaign to save the theatre, and thanks to great public support and an enlightened local council, the future of the theatre was assured. In later years, Swansea Grand underwent major enlargement and redevelopment, all under the watchful eye of John, who, in 1973, was honoured with an MBE for his services to the theatre in Wales.

In 1982, after the pantomime season, he retired from the Grand due to some heart problems, but he continued working in a freelance capacity for several more years.

John was an extremely kind, witty and gentle man, superbly talented in many fields - especially pantomime and farce, and always supportive of young actors at the beginning of their career. In his later years, he became a fount of wisdom, famous for his wicked sense of humour and his accurate recall of 60 years of theatre. There are hundreds of actors who owe their first break to “JC” and his passing will cause much sadness and many happy memories.

He is survived by his life-long partner, Freddie Lees, and one remaining sister, Gwyneth together with a number of nieces.

Vivyan Ellacott

Manager of Kenneth More Theatre, Essex