The Stage

Wilfred Harrison

Published Tuesday 2 March 2010 at 13:30 by Ruari McNeill

Wilfred Harrison was a true man of the theatre, who played a significant role in several north of England venues, but whose greatest contribution was as founder director of the Century Theatre.

For 45 years, Century visited towns without theatres, bringing high-standard, professional productions to them and inspired the building of new theatres in Bolton, Chester and Lancaster. From 1961, it housed summer seasons in Keswick, until the Theatre by the Lake was built. In 1997, CT was moved to Snibston Discovery Park and there it now provides a home for community theatre and theatre for young people.

Born in Sheffield in 1918, Wilfred first worked with the Adelphi Players. In 1948, he met John Ridley, who had designed a mobile theatre. Wilfred agreed to raise the £25,000 required to build the theatre and Century Theatre, a unique mobile structure, was completed in 1952, seating 225 in its heated auditorium. It was the first new professional theatre to be built in Britain after the Second World War. Wilfred was the first artistic director of the company and played Othello in the opening production. He remained involved with Century until his death.

In 1960, he became associate director of the Sheffield Playhouse. After Sheffield, he became director of the Octagon Theatre in Bolton, where a highlight of his programme was the annual Shakespeare season, in which he played Macbeth, Othello, Falstaff, Lear and Prospero.

After retirement he travelled widely, performing, lecturing and directing. In the West End he appeared at the Old Vic and for several Christmas seasons played Badger in Toad of Toad Hall.

Wilfred died in Bolton in November 22, aged 91. His passionate devotion to the Century Theatre and all that it stood for was a unique contribution to the history of British theatre. A fund has been set up to provide a permanent memorial to him in Century Theatre at Snibston. Contributions can be made to: WHCTMF c/o D Harrison, 33 Cambridge Road, Dunton, Biggleswade SG18 8RT.