Theatre biography in detail
 


 

1961

First job was  Nicola in Irene (by Ugo Betti, directed by Bryan Whitehouse) in the first ever season by Prospect Productions. Then at Arts Theatre Cambridge, as Gremio in Taming of the Shrew (dir Trevor Nunn). Northampton Rep, as Spanish Ambassador in A Man for All Seasons (dir Alan Brown). First French Baron and Second Becket Servant in Becket (dir Peter Hall), at The Globe Theatre (now The Gielgud), London West End.

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1961-64

Royal Shakespeare Company appearing in more than a dozen productions, better parts being the Prompter in John Barton’s version of Taming of the Shrew (dir Peter Hall), Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (dir Peter Hall), Oskar Rose in The Physicists (dir Peter Brook), the Doctor in King Lear (dir Peter Brook, with Paul Scofield), the Pope’s Secretary in The Representative (dir Clifford Williams), Balthazar in A Comedy of Errors (dir Clifford Williams) and the lead, Zapo, in Picnic on the Battlefield (dir David Jones).  Appeared in Royal Command performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream & A Comedy of Errors.

1964

Glasgow Citizens’ Theatre: Inquisitor in St Joan (dir Ken Parrott);  the lead in the musical That’ll Be The Day (dir Ken Parrott).

1965

Wimsel in The Secret (dir Braham Murray), Theatre Lynn season, King’s Lynn.

1966

Chichester Festival Theatre: Brush in A Clandestine Marriage (dir John Clements), Seyton in Macbeth (dir Michael Benthall), Yasha in The Cherry Orchard (dir Lindsay Anderson).

1966-68

Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. Many appearances, including Nipple in Little Malcolm (dir Richard Eyre), Konstantin in The Seagull (dir Richard Eyre), Morocco in The Merchant of Venice (dir Eric Jones), Ron in Events While Guarding a Bofors Gun (dir Richard Eyre).

1968

Chichester Festival Theatre:  The Rebel in The Unknown Soldier and His Wife (author & director Peter Ustinov).

1970

Cochrane Theatre, London: Gray of Gray’s Elegy (solo show). Gardner Centre, Brighton: Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night (dir Gordon McDougall), Chris in Dark River (dir Gordon McDougall). Arts Theatre, Ipswich: Don Pedro in Much Ado about nothing (dir Nicholas Barter).  Poetry recital with Margaret Drabble at the Poetry Society, Earl’s Court.

1971

Nottingham Playhouse and the National Theatre (Old Vic):  Luigi in Fry’s A Yard of Sun (dir Stuart Burge). Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh: the title rôle in the Scottish premiere of Hadrian VII (dir Philip Grout) - click here for review. The Gray Bicentenary Festival, Stoke Poges: Gray of Gray’s Elegy. Arts Theatre, Ipswich: Beyond the Fringe (dir Suki Pitcher) and the leading rôle in I Learned in Ipswich How to Poison Flowers (dir Nicholas Barter).

1972

Tour of South East Asia for British Council as Stanley in The Birthday Party (dir Nicolas Kent).  University Theatre, Newcastle: Quince in The Faery Queen (dir Gareth Morgan, conducted by Neville Marriner) and the Ragman in Peer Gynt (dir Gareth Morgan). Associate Artist of Tyneside Theatre CompanyThe Mermaid Theatre, London: the Judge in Shaw’s Geneva (dir Philip Grout).

1973

Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch: Dromio in A Comedy of Errors (dir Nicolas Kent). Commenced long association with Derby Playhouse, as Butley in Butley (dir Mark Woolgar) and Jaques in As You Like It (dir Mark Woolgar).

1974

Derby Playhouse: Long John Silver in Treasure Island (dir Mark Woolgar), Headmaster in Forty Years On (dir Mark Woolgar), Ugly Sister in Cinderella (dir Malcolm Sircom).   Mermaid Theatre, London: Chief of Police in The Price of Justice (dir Bernard Miles).

1975

Palace Theatre Watford: Vershinin in Three Sisters (dir Stephen Hollis). Derby Playhouse: Polonius in Hamlet (dir Mark Woolgar) - click here for review, and Prime Minister in Sleeping Beauty (dir Malcom Sircom).

1976

Derby Playhouse: the title role in The Miser (dir Mark Woolgar), Holmes in Enter Sherlock Holmes (dir Mark Woolgar). Traverse Theatre: national tour and Edinburgh Festival playing the title rôle in The Jesuit (dir Sandy Nielson).

1977

Bristol Old Vic, Sir Robert Morton KC in The Winslow Boy (dir Patrick Lau), Brettschneider & Goering in Schweyk in the Second World War (dir John David). Birmingham Rep: Arnholm in Lady from the Sea (dir Bill Pride). Derby Playhouse: Baron Hardup in Mother Goose (dir Malcolm Sircom).

1978

Palace Theatre, Watford: Dr McPhail opposite Gloria Grahame in Rain (dir Stephen Hollis). The Young Vic, London: Rudolf Hess in Hess (written by Michael Burrell, dir Philip Grout) - Click for more information on the play or click here for reviews. Redgrave Theatre, Farnham: George in Jumpers (dir David Horlock), Headmaster in Forty Years On (dir David Horlock), and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice (dir David Horlock) - click here for review.

1979

Palace Theatre, Watford: Ned in Autumn Garden (dir Stephen Hollis). Took Hess to Lancaster, Derby Playhouse, Edinburgh Traverse, Farnham, Rugby, and to New York - to Shelter West, 18th Street Playhouse, Entermedia Marquee Theatre; recipient of Obie Award, New York 1980 - click here for reviews.

1980

Hess at Cork, ten locations in Lancashire, Norwich Maddermarket, Manchester, Preston, Alsager, Boston, Dublin International Theatre FestivalSherman Cardiff, Bristol Old Vic, Mercury Theatre Colchester, Stahl Theatre Oundle, Palace Theatre Westcliff.

1981

British Council Tour of Senegal, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia with Sorcha Cusack playing scenes from Shakespeare. Hess at Wells Centre Norfolk & Worcester, and at the Mickery Theatre Amsterdam. King’s Head, London played opposite Betty Marsden in Couples (dir Jon Bromwich)

1982

British Council Tour of Tunisia, Morocco and Portugal with Jane Wymark and Brian Smith playing scenes from Shakespeare, Pinter and Bolt

1983

British Council Tour of Morocco and Tunisia with Jane Wymark, playing scenes from Shakespeare. Salisbury Playhouse: Father in Relatively Speaking (dir Graham Berown), Melbury in The Woodlanders (dir David Horlock). Bristol Old Vic: Dr Rance in What the Butler Saw (dir Philip Grout), and both Messengers in The Bacchae (dir Andy Hinds)

1984

British Council Tour of Morocco with Susan Engel. Hess at Salisbury Playhouse. Shaw Theatre, London and touring with Cambridge Theatre Company: Conrad and He-Ancient in Back to Methuselah (dir Bill Pride). Hess at Edmonton Theatre Festival Canada; Edmonton Journal Best Actor Award and Edmonton Journal Best Show Award.

1985

Member of English by Radio team, BBC World Service. In Vienna, as the Detective opposite Maria Perschy in Dial M for Murder (dir Cyril Frankel). Edmonton Theatre Festival, Canada: with solo Shakespeare show, Burrell on the Bard (dir Christopher Wood); Edmonton Journal Best Actor Award.

1986

Hess plays in Ottawa Canada - first actor to appear solo at Canada’s National;  Capital Critics’ Citation for Best ActorBritish Council Tour of Morocco and Sudan with Susan Engel, and Burrell on the Bard goes to Beirut (both sides of the green line), Jounieh and Tripoli, Lebanon, for the British Council.  National Tour of Canada with Hess.

1987

British Council Tour of Morocco with Pia Henderson.  Greenwich Theatre & Palace Theatre Watford: Mr Morland in Mary Rose (dir Matthew Francis).  Palace Theatre Watford: Dr Ranke in A Doll’s House (dir Lou Stein).

1988

British Council Tour of Morocco with Barbara Ferris in Borrowing Time (by MB, dir Philip Grout) - click here for review. At The Mill at Sonning played the three leads in Neil Simon's Plaza Suite (dir Anna Barry).

1989

British Council Tour of Morocco with Alison Skilbeck in Intimate Exchanges (dir Denise Coffey). Gala recital at Stoke Court. Theatre Royal Windsor: Tim in Ten Times Table (dir Robin Herford). Palace Theatre Westcliff: General Burgoyne in The Man Who Lost America  (by MB, dir Philip Grout). Hess at Winnipeg Theatre Festival Canada. Edmonton Theatre Festival Canada, General Burgoyne in The Man Who Lost America (dir Philip Grout). Governor’s Residence, Mauritius: England from Afar (recital). Recited a poem at the Cenotaph, Port Louis for Remembrance Day.

1990

British Council Tour of Morocco with Alison Skilbeck in A Slight AcheLatchmere Theatre London:, Richard &  John, with Sheila Reid,  in Borrowing Time (dir Philip Grout); General Burgoyne, with  Nicholas Moore, in The Man Who Lost America. Nuffield Theatre Southampton: the lead, Oliphant, in A Curious Accident (dir Jeremy Raison).

1991

Winnipeg Theatre Festival: Burrell on the BardEdmonton Theatre Festival: the older Rauch in Funker Rauch (by MB, dir Brian Paisley) - click here for reviewGreenwich Theatre; in The Government Inspector (dir Matthew Francis). Palace Theatre Watford: in The Picture of Dorian Gray (dir Lou Stein).

1992

Recital with King’s College Choir for Cambridge Arts Theatre Appeal.

1993

Hess at Orlando Theatre Festival USA and Bury St Edmunds FestivalComedy Store London: guest artist with Comedy Store Players (twice). Stratford East Company: Wicksteed in national tour of The Invisible Man (dir Ken Hill).

 
1994

Winnipeg, Saskatoon & Edmonton Festivals Canada: Aldo Moro in No Tomorrow (by MB, dir Anna Barry). British Council Tour of India with Burrell on the Bard.

1995

Derby Playhouse: Clarence in Richard III (dir Mark Clements). Poetry recitals in Huntingdon and Angles Theatre Wisbech.

1996

British tour of HessAngles Theatre Wisbech:  Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (dir MB).

1997

Angles Theatre Wisbech: Silver in Treasure Island (dir MB).

1998

King’s Lynn Festival: several roles in Shakespeare compilation The Days We Have Seen (compiled & dir MB).

1999

Angles Theatre Wisbech: MC of Old Time Music Hall, and Roundheads and Cavaliers, a recital with Marcia Warren (also at Sidney Sussex College Cambridge).

2000

Angles Theatre Wisbech: Interviewer for An Audience with John Chapman, and recital, A Christmas Celebration.

2001

Stoke Poges, Thomas Gray recital.

2002

Stoke Poges Jubilee Event as reciter. Peckover House & Parson Drove, Fenland in Words, recital. Peterhouse Cambridge, recital from the writings of members of the Bloomsbury group.

2003

Guild of Tallow Chandlers, two poetry recitals. Wimblington, Fenland in Words. Stoke Poges, An English Celebration of Popular Classics in Words and Music. Huntingdon Festival and Wisbech Heritage & Harmony Festival, Samuel Pepys: Public and Private. Granary Theatre Wells, King’s Lynn Arts Centre & Sussex Barn Burnham Market: appearances in cameo rôles of Brigadier, Cole & Cedric in Margot Strickland’s Teddy Twindletail Talks for England,

2004

Various characters in interactive playlets for Carrie Herbert Consultancy for corporates.

2005

Further characters for Carrie Herbert Consultancy for a corporate.  St George’s Day Recitals with Marcia Warren at the Salvation Army Hall, Wisbech and in Whitehall Place, London. Bad King John in Kings & Liberties, a commissioned play to mark 800th anniversary of Huntingdon’s Charter. Took over as Mr Paravicini in The Mousetrap, St Martin’s Theatre, London West End.

2006

St Martin’s Theatre, London West End: Mr Paravicini in The Mousetrap. Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds: Restoring the Repertoire - rôles in three long-unperformed Georgian plays given rehearsed readings.

2007

Fortune Theatre, London West End:  Arthur Kipps in The Woman in Black.

2008

The Mill at Sonning: Ashley Croucher in Sugar Daddies (Ayckbourn). Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds & Haymarket  Basingstoke: Jeffrey in Animal Magnetism (Inchbald) and Mr Norberry in Wives As They Were, And Maids As They Are (Inchbald).

2010 The Earl of Sandwich in The Winding Stair (Michael Burrell), and An Actor's Tale - a solo show for the Angles Theatre Wisbech  
 
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Last Update - July
2010