THEATRE MEMORIES

Repertory theatre card dating from the late 1940’s

Peter’s first ever professional performance as Gerald Forbes in ‘When We Are Married’ at the Embassy Theatre, London in 1947. He was 19-years -old at the time.

Tickets from the evening performance of ‘Pick-Up Girl‘ at the Theatre Royal on Monday, 19th May, 1947. Peter played the Door Attendant that particular night, but would play Policeman Owens in performances later on the tour.

During the summer of 1949, the Embassy Theatre in London held a Festival of Repertory. Companies from Nottingham, Glasgow, Manchester and Bristol were invited to take part. At that time, Peter was a member of the Nottingham Theatre Trust Repertory Company that chose to stage William Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ from June 28th until 10th July. Peter would take the role of Cassio. Future film and screen stars Leo McKern and Alfred Burke were also part of the Company.

As part of the London Players, Peter did a season at the Grand Theatre, Southampton in 1951/52, appearing in ‘Black Coffee’, ‘French Without Tears’. ‘Love From A Stranger’, ‘Murder without Crime’, ‘Young Wives Tale’ and the above named. It was while he was resident in Southampton that he met his future wife, Dorinda Stevens.

Peter’s first ever photo appearance in a theatre programme. ‘The Good Woman of Setzuan‘ (The Royal Court Theatre, London), in which he played Yang Sun.

Left: Peter’s script for ‘The Good Woman of Setzuan‘. In the top righthand corner, he has written his name, phone number and address – i.e. 11 Oxford Mews, London (see above) where he was living with his girlfriend, Ruby Talbot, at that time. The play opened at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, in mid-October 1956.

According to the American author, Donald Spoto, in his book, ‘Otherwise Engaged: The Life of Alan Bates’ – Peter was “living with”

Bates at 1, Earls Terrace, London W8 by this time. In fact, Peter only moved into the aforementioned apartment in November 1958 [see the original lease dated 24th November1958, and signed by Peter]. You can also see, written in Peter’s own hand, the true nature of his “relationship” with Alan Bates here.

A letter dated 4th July 1959, discussing the possibility of taking Peter’s production for ‘Cyrano de Bergerac‘ from the Old Vic in Bristol to the West End of London.

CHARACATURES

Left to Right: Peter as Dunois, Siobhan McKenna as Joan and Kenneth Williams as The Dauphin in ‘St Joan‘

Left to Right: Peter as Yang Sun, Joan Plowwright as Shui Ta and George Devine in ‘The Good Woman of Setzuan‘

Peter as Count Marcellus in ‘Duel of Angels‘

From the opening night programme for ‘Duel of Angels‘ at the Helen Hayes Theatre, New York. This would be Peter’s debut on Broadway. As a result of his performance as Count Marcellus, he would win the ‘Most Promising Newcomer’  award in 1960. (He also won ‘Best Actor In A Foreign Play’ in San Francisco in the same year).

Peter’s hand-drawn and painted costume ideas for the character of Nikolay Von Koren in ‘The Duel’.

Promotional envelope issued by the Metro Theatre, Melbourne when Peter was starring in ‘Butley‘ (1971)

A copy of ‘The Seagull’ by Jonathan Livingston signed by and given to Peter by Sally Anne Howes on 22nd August, 1973. Ms Howes played Anna to his King in ‘The King and I‘.

Peter’s sketch for the King’s costume in ‘The King and I‘

Peter’s bespoke fangs as worn in his own production of ‘Dracula‘.

Some of Peter’s handwritten note for ‘Dracula‘.

A letter to Peter from Dame Edith Evans regarding his invitation to see his production of ‘Dracula‘.

Box office receipt for the 20th November, 1974 performance of ‘Present Laughter‘ at the Theatre Royal, Brighton. It should be remembered that at that time, the highest-priced ticket in the West End of London was just £1.35, so £494.80p would suggest that this particular performance was a sell-out.

Peter’s contract with the Forum, Billingham for ‘Present Laughter‘.

From the opening night of ‘Big Toys‘ at the English Theatre, Vienna. This was the European Premier of the play that had been written by Patrick White, who had won the Nobel Prize For Literature in 1973. Peter both directed and starred in the play.

Peter’s contract with Pieter Toerien Productions to play Sidney Bruhl in ‘Deathtrap‘.

A letter dated 23rd April, 1983,from The Underground Company (London) to the Alexandra Theatre, Toronto, confirming that Peter would be playing Alexander Howard in Michael Slone’s ‘Underground‘.

A keepsake from the play ‘Underground‘ – The Prince of Wales Theatre, London. Handmade and painted ceramic.

‘Light Up The Sky‘ – opening night: 10th September, 1985. Robert Stephens had originally been cast in the role of Carlton Fitzgerald in this play at the Old Vic, London, but had to withdraw due to illness. Peter was brought in as his replacement. Here is the original programme (right) naming Stephens with Peter’s biography included as an insert (left).

Peter’s original contract between him and Capaco Limited, The Theatre Royal, Windsor, for his appearance in ‘Guilty Conscience‘ – July 1986. He would take the role of The Prosecutor in the play.

A note stapled into the 13th December, 1990 performance of ‘The Country Wife‘ at the Mermaid Theatre, London, advising patrons that Peter would not be appearing as Pinchwife that evening as he was suffering with a bout of the Flu which turned to a viral infection. He was replaced by Keith Bridgewater.

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