Tag: recollections

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It’s the third Music Hall and Variety Day!

Today is the third Music Hall and Variety Day, where the British Music Hall Society invites people around the UK and beyond to celebrate by posting on social media photographs, postcards, bill posters, programmes, costumes, stories, memories about music hall, the buildings, performers, songs and shows that you may recall or have a link with. And don’t forget the hashtags so others can find your contributions!

For my contribution, below you can enjoy Michael Grade’s excellent History of Music Hall from 2011

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Listen to the stars’ recollections of Manchester’s Playhouse Theatres

Here’s a radio treat that theatre fans will enjoy!

In a 30-minute programme broadcast on the BBC in April 2002, Geoffrey Wheeler revisits the scene of the Manchester Playhouse Theatre in Hulme. Built back-to-back with the Hulme Hippodrome, the Playhouse was used by the BBC as a radio and TV recording studio for light entertainment, comedy and music shows from 1955-86.

It was host to some of the BBC’s best-loved comedy and variety shows with Al Read, Ken Dodd, Les Dawson, Jimmy Clitheroe, Morecambe & Wise and many other shows. It was also home to the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra.

Thanks to YouTube poster ricardo2266, you can listen to this nostalgic show right now. Enjoy!

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Memories of working with Sir Laurence Olivier

Sir Laurence Olivier

To celebrate the 114th anniversary of Sir Laurence Olivier’s birth today, you might like to mark the occasion by enjoying some recollections from those who worked with him.

On the 22 October 2013, 50 years after the first performance by the National Theatre, Nicholas Hytner hosted a special Platform event with a group of actors who were in the original NT company at the Old Vic – Michael Gambon, Gawn Grainger, James Hayes, Geraldine McEwan, Ronald Pickup and Sheila Reid all share their memories and experiences working with Olivier and the National Theatre. This 45-minute recording is a fascinating watch.