John Counsell (theatre director)

John Counsell
OBE
Born 24 April 1905
Beckenham, Kent, England
Died 23 February 1987 (aged 81)
Windsor, Berkshire, England
Occupation Theatre director, actor, and theatre manager

John Counsell OBE (April 24, 1905 – February 23, 1987) was an English actor, director and theatre manager, who (with his wife Mary Kerridge) ran the Theatre Royal, Windsor and its in-house repertory company from the 1930s to the 1980s. His daughter is the actress Elizabeth Counsell, and he was uncle to the actress and painter Jean Miller.[1] Born in Beckenham, to Claud Counsell and Evelyn Fleming, the bulk of Counsell's career was spent in Windsor repertory theatre and the West-end stage.[2][3][4]

The Theatre Royal, Windsor

Theatre Royal
Theatre Royal in 2006

The Theatre Royal, Windsor is located in the town of Windsor, Berkshire, England, directly across the road from Windsor Castle. It was turned into a cinema in 1929. Beginning in 1930 Counsell served as an apprentice when it reopened as a theatre, and in 1933 he took over managing the theatre; the venture lasted only a few months before it went bankrupt, but the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth attended one of the last performances, coming from nearby Windsor Castle.[5]:74 He was able to re-open the theatre in 1938 and was able to establish a viable company, that ran without government subsidies.[5]:74, 115 He and his actress wife Mary Kerridge ran the theatre until his retirement in 1986, the year before his death.[6][7][8]

References

  1. ↑ http://sounds.bl.uk/related-content/TRANSCRIPTS/024T-C1142X000216-0100A0.pdf
  2. ↑ "Jean Miller obituary: Telegraph".
  3. ↑ Counsell, John. "Counsell's Opinion" (1963)
  4. ↑ Eric Shorter. "Mary Kerridge". the Guardian.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Rowell, G, et al. The Repertory Movement: A History of Regional Theatre in Britain. Cambridge University Press, 1984 ISBN 9780521319195
  6. ↑ Counsell, John. "Counsell's Opinion" Barrie & Rockliff 1963
  7. ↑ http://britishtheatre.com/weekly-rep-returns-to-theatre-royal-windsor/
  8. ↑ "Obituary: Mary Kerridge". The Independent.

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Further Reading