325 stories by "Michael Coveney"
Young Vic, London: "I'm stupefied by the suffering I've seen," cries Patrick Stewart as William Shakespeare, returning to one of his favourite roles in a six-week run at …
Irish stage and screen actor who was a familiar face in many British TV sitcomsThe distinctive and beguiling Irish actor David Kelly, who has died aged 82, was as familiar a face in British …
Actor whose unpredictability never undermined his electrifying talent Continue reading...
Leading light of the British stage once seen as Gielgud's successorJohn Neville, who has died aged 86, was a leading light of the Old Vic, the charismatic artistic director of the Nottingham…
Theatre scholar and cultural commentatorThe suspicion of intellectuals in the British performing arts runs deep, so it is hard to appreciate exactly the status and reputation throughout the…
Playwright who mixed a comic brew of weird suburban characters and absurd situationsThe playwright NF Simpson, who has died aged 92, was hailed by the critic Kenneth Tynan in 1958 as "the mo…
Actor who reigned supreme as Lear and Prospero, and was spellbinding in Stoppard and PinterJohn Wood, who has died aged 81, was one of the greatest stage actors of the past century, especial…
Ferociously intelligent actor who reigned supreme in Stoppard and Shakespeare Continue reading...
Imposing, hands-on publicity director of the Edinburgh festivalIain Crawford, who has died aged 88 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease, was the first publicity director of the Edinburgh…
A striking stage presence for more than 60 years and a familiar face on TVSheila Burrell, who has died aged 89 after a long illness, was a cousin of Laurence Olivier, and a similarly di…
Actor best known as a valiant Dr Watson in Granada's Sherlock Holmes seriesFor eight years from 1986, Edward Hardwicke, who has died aged 78, was the face of Dr Watson on televisio…
A familiar face on TV and a stage actor at the cutting edgeNicholas Selby, who has died aged 85, was, in many ways, the archetypal supporting actor: dependable, grave and imposing …
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon: The new theatre in Stratford is now truly up and running, with RSC artistic director Michael Boyd delivering its first purpose-built productio…
Actor known for her role as Dora, the wife of Inspector Wexford in the popular TV seriesLouie Ramsay, who has died aged 81, was a dynamic musical comedy actor who became a dramatic linchpin …
Theatre director who made his name and built his reputation at the two StratfordsMichael Langham, who has died aged 91, was a rigorous and scholarly theatre director who made his n…
Versatile Irish stage actor who became a familiar face across British dramaBefore he became a familiar face on television and cinema screens, the outstanding Irish actor TP McKenna…
Energetic founder of the pioneering experimental theatre club La MaMaThe major impetus and example for much of our first fringe and alternative theatre 50 years ago came from New Y…
Colourful theatre director at the Royal Court and NationalThe theatre director Desmond O'Donovan, who has died aged 77, played an important role in the early history of the English Stage Com…
Dance and theatre photographer with a gift for capturing the essence of a performerZoë Dominic, who has died aged 90, was one of the outstanding group of dance and theatre photo- graphers…
In an age of predictably over-hyped musicals, Pedro Almod ó var’s 1987 post-Franco Madrid movie jumps to the stage with an unexpected bounce.
In an age of predictably over-hyped musicals, Pedro Almod ó var’s 1987 post-Franco Madrid movie jumps to the stage with an unexpected bound.
Popular northern dramatist for TV, theatre and radio, his works guaranteed humour, heart and humanityAlan Plater, who has died of cancer aged 75, was one of a handful of writers, including J…
Gifted actor with a flair for comedy from a celebrated British theatrical dynasty Continue reading...
Experimental writer, theatre director and improviser, he was one of the strangest people in Britain Continue reading...
As actor, entertainer, playwright and iconoclast, Ken Campbell has been renowned as the madcap genius of British drama. He talks to Michael Coveney about life on and beyond the fringe Contin…
